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The Story of Coach Jarius Williams: From Troubled Youth to Head Coach and Mentor.
In a small town in Alabama, Jarius Williams’ story started against a backdrop of adversity. Jarius was raised by his single mother. He faced a challenging youth upbringing, yet he found salvation in faith, football, and supportive mentors. He evolved from a promising college athlete to become the head coach of Sumiton Christian High School, mentoring countless young athletes and inspiring hope in his community.
Growing up in Alabama, Jarius Williams faced significant hardships. His mother was a tireless worker. She instilled in him an unwavering work ethic and determination. In his early years, he had to overcome adversity using football to escape. Football became his passion, a sport where he found motivation and purpose. His exceptional talent on the field earned him a spot at Independence Community College, a renowned JUCO powerhouse. Here, Jarius honed his skills, catching the attention of scouts from Ole Miss. At Ole Miss, he showcased his athletic abilities, leadership, and resilience, becoming a standout player both on and off the field.
Jarius envisioned a path as a personal trainer early on in college. After college football, through God’s unwavering love and community support, Jarius founded Pro1 Training, offering young athletes guidance. His company provides the stability he wished he had growing up. Pro1 has become a sanctuary for aspiring athletes, equipping them for success and opportunities to get noticed by college recruiters. Jarius dedicates himself to his athletes, driven by his passion for youth sports and community service. He has paid out of pocket to help at-risk athletes in his community gain opportunities they might not have received without his support. As a sports ambassador, he prides himself on mentoring young athletes in his community and nationwide.
In 2021, Jarius felt a divine calling to become the head football coach at Sumiton Christian High School. He viewed this opportunity as a way to help shape the futures of young athletes just as his high school coaches did. Jarius credits his journey to divine help, his mentors’ unwavering support, and the encouragement from his community.
“Last week, I had to step away from social media to gather my thoughts because everything has been happening so fast,” Jarius shared. “The Lord has truly been blessing me beyond measure, and I’d like to thank Him for that! Humanly speaking, I would say I’m undeserving, but God did say once we accept Christ, we will be saved. Once we accept Christ, we are all ‘children of God.’ So yes, I am worthy of all things, and so are you, born-again believers.” ~Galatians 3:26
As Jarius builds a legacy for his family that will impact his community, he never loses focus on the importance of being of service. Jarius aims to mentor and expose Walker County athletes, filling gaps from his youth. Since 2014, he has served the community. He has employed dedicated staff and boosted adult confidence through exercise.
“My goal was to be a coach outside of coaching,” Jarius explained. “In 2021, the Lord revealed to me that the excuses I was making to not coach school ball were rooted in fear and not from Him. He reminded me of Proverbs 16:9: ‘Ok Lord, I just want your will to be done.'”
The Head Coach’s Journey Jarius dreamed of started years ago with a nonprofit for at-risk kids, which later resulted in the negotiation with Under Armour, the development of a college recruiting tour, and his participation as a coach, taking several players from Alabama on the Elite Talent Elevate Your Game Bus Tour to the country’s largest National Combine Sound Mind Sound Body in Detroit, Michigan. While on the bus tour, he learned he had received the Sumiton Christian Head Coaching job from which a Parrish native asked that he apply. After praying and talking to mentors, Jarius took the job.
“I called one of my old college coaches and told him what was going on. The conversation went like this: ‘Coach, there is this high school in the area that wants me to be their head football coach.’ He immediately said, ‘WOW, CONGRATULATIONS MAN, THAT’S GREAT!’ I replied, ‘But coach, that’s not something I was wanting to do right now. Coach said, ‘Jarius, go see, and if you don’t like it, then don’t do it. But maybe this is the Lord’s will. Pray about it.’ I said, ‘Ok, coach, you’re right. I’ll go see.’ I went, I saw, and here we are—you’re looking at the next Head Football Coach of the Sumiton Christian Eagles.”
Leading with purpose as head coach of Sumiton Christian, Jarius aims to provide leadership, mentorship, and exposure to his athletes. He will focus on building genuine relationships and preparing each individual for life with Christ at the center. His journey from a troubled youth to a respected coach and mentor is a powerful testimony to the transformative power of faith, sports, and perseverance.
Jarius Williams’ story is one of resilience, faith, and dedication. From his humble beginnings to his current head coach and mentor role, he continues to inspire and uplift those around him. His unwavering commitment to helping young athletes and his passion for giving back are testaments to his character and the positive impact he has on his community.
“I just want to say thank you again, Lord! Thank you to the Sumiton Christian Family! Thank you to the front office for being obedient to God’s word and reaching out! Thank you for all the LOVE AND SUPPORT! I now have a high school football team of my own—a team to LOVE FIRST, build genuine relationships with, and help prepare each individual to make it in life, with Christ taught through training and football. You want to talk about immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine. GOD, YOU’VE DONE IT AGAIN!!”