E-mail: john.williamson@vanderbilt.edu

WINNING ON ALL LEVELS IS WILLIAMSON'S GOAL

"We have a team of high achievers on multiple fronts."

2008-09: In a sports crazy society that worships winning, John Williamson has become a championship coach by placing his highest priority on the overall development of his student-athletes and not merely their bowling averages. That makes him different.

He has already taken the Commodores to the NCAA Championship - Vanderbilt's first in any sport - in 2007 and has been voted the national "Coach of the Year" but he is equally proud of his team's academic leadership position on the highly competitive Vanderbilt campus.

"We have a team of high achievers on multiple fronts," Williamson says. "Nearly everyone has a B average or better and that is no easy accomplishment here. Some are active in community service. And they are all very focused on becoming the best bowler they can be. They are winners in every way."

He was director of sport operations for the high-powered Vanderbilt baseball program when he was tapped to begin the school's bowling program in 2004. His first recruiting class finished fifth at the 2006 NCAA Championship and their national title in 2007 surprised outsiders by the speed in which it arrived.

Williamson has developed strong traditions in a brief time. Already the program has had a national player of the year, two first-team All-Americans, 18 academic All-Americans, one national Rookie of the Year and one runner-up, and one Vanderbilt scholar-athlete of the year. It has been invited to the White House by the President. Many of the nation's premier junior bowlers see it as their program of choice.

Academic success has been impressive. In 2006 the team posted a 3.489 grade point to lead all Commodore teams and it has remained among the campus leaders in 2007 and 2008, its roster dotted with Dean's List members. Nine `Dores made the Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll last year.

"This is a team of future leaders," Williamson says with pride. "They are going into medicine, education and business and Vanderbilt has shaped and sharpened their skills to do so."

Williamson has many friends and is known for his engaging personality. His varied interests include Ryman, his German Shorthair dog, a vast music collection, comics such as Jon Stewart and collegiate athletics in general.

Prior to his service with VU's winning baseball team, he had served in Vanderbilt's athletic development office. He is a native of Franklin, Tenn., and a graduate of the University of Mississippi. He was a member of the Ole Miss football team for two seasons after earning all-state football and all-district baseball honors at Nashville's Franklin Road Academy, where he is a member of its Athletic Hall of Fame.