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Max Williams (basketball)

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Max Williams
Personal information
Born (1938-02-28) February 28, 1938 (age 86)
Avoca, Texas, U.S.
Career information
High schoolAvoca (Avoca, Texas)
CollegeSMU (1957–1960)
Career history
As coach:
1970Dallas Chaparrals

Max Williams (born February 28, 1938) was the head coach of the Dallas Chaparrals as part of the American Basketball Association in 1970. Apart from his 28 wins and 32 losses, Williams was the general manager of the Chaparrals from 1967 to 1971. Before he joined the ABA, Williams accumulated 3,360 career points as a high school basketball player during the 1950s in Avoca, Texas. With the SMU Mustangs men's basketball team, Williams held the free throw percentage season record for the university in 1958 and 1960. He had 940 career points with SMU after his final season in 1960.

From the 1960s to 1970s, Williams worked in insurance and real estate while in Dallas. After becoming senior vice president for his real estate employer in 1975, Williams started companies in oil and real estate. He continued to work on oil production projects throughout the late 1970s. Williams was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.

Early life and education

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Williams was born in Avoca, Texas on February 28, 1938.[1][2] He grew up in Avoca and Guthrie with his family. During his teens, Williams was raised by his mother after his father's death.[3] As a high school basketball player from 1953 to 1956, Williams accumulated 3,360 career points at Avoca after 140 games.[4][5] While with Avoca, Williams won the 1955 Texas boys basketball title in the Class B division held by the University Interscholastic League.[6][7]

In 1956, Williams joined Southern Methodist University on an athletic scholarship.[8][9] At SMU, Williams started playing basketball as part of their freshmen team that year before joining the SMU Mustangs men's basketball team in 1957. Williams was a co-captain of the SMU team for the 1957–58 and 1958–59 seasons.[10][11] During his time at SMU, Williams held the free throw percentage season record for the university in 1958 and 1960.[12] After his 73 games with the men's team, Williams accumulated 845 assists and 295 rebounds as part of his 940 points.[13] Williams also joined the Cycen Fjodr while remaining at SMU as a graduate student in 1960.[14]

Career

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After college, Williams went to Dallas and worked in insurance.[15] With the American Basketball Association, Williams helped organized the creation of the Dallas Chaparrals.[16] He became the team's general manager upon their establishment in 1967 and held the position until 1971.[17] During his time as general manager, Williams took over as the Chaparrals's head coach when Cliff Hagan resigned in 1970.[18]

As an ABA head coach, Williams had 28 wins and 32 losses.[1] During the 1970 ABA Playoffs, Williams and the Chaparrals reached the semifinals of the Western Division.[19] He remained as both the team's head coach and general manager until Bill Blakely became coach of the Chaparrals in November 1970.[20] While working as their general manager, Williams was fired from the Chaparrals in April 1971.[21] Outside of coaching, Williams was also in charge of tickets.[16]

After leaving the Chaparrals, Williams became a real estate agent for a Dallas company in 1971 and was promoted to senior vice president in 1975. The same year, Williams started up companies in real estate and oil.[22] As an oilman, Williams worked together with Irv Deal and Ray Holifield in oil production projects throughout the late 1970s.[23]

Awards and honors

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Williams was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 2009[24] and the Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013.[25] He was also selected as one of the best 100 boys basketball players in Texas by the UIL upon the organization's 100th anniversary.[26]

Personal life

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Williams is married and has two children.[27]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Max Williams". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
  2. ^ Marcus, Jeff (2003). "Williams, C. Max". A Biographical Directory of Professional Basketball Coaches. American Sports History. Vol. 23. Lanham: Scarecrow Press. p. 426. ISBN 0810840073.
  3. ^ Cherry, Brice (27 December 2009). "Max Williams: Texas' pro hoops pioneer". Waco Tribune-Herald. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  4. ^ Askeland, Kevin (March 4, 2022). "MaxPreps National High School Basketball Record Book: Career scoring". MaxPreps. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
  5. ^ Wade, Harless (March 4, 1956). "Schoolboy Career Becomes Past History for Williams". Abilene Reporter-News. sec. D p. 1.
  6. ^ "Avoca Five Wins Class B Honors". The Bryan Daily Eagle. Associated Press. March 6, 1955. p. Six.
  7. ^ "UIL State Boys Basketball Tournament Champions (Through The Previous School Year Unless Otherwise Noted)". University Interscholastic League. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
  8. ^ "Max Williams Signs With SMU". The Odessa American. United Press. April 26, 1956. p. Seventeen.
  9. ^ Wade, Harless (April 27, 1956). "Wading Around". Abilene Reporter-News. p. 11-A.
  10. ^ Browder, Jimmy (January 9, 1957). "Max Williams Steals Spotlight". Abilene Reporter-News. p. 11-A.
  11. ^ Hudson, Herman, ed. (November 20, 2020). "2020–21 Men's Basketball" (PDF). SMU Athletics. Dallas, Texas: Southern Methodist University. p. 79. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
  12. ^ Hudson ed. 2020, p. 139
  13. ^ Hudson ed. 2020, p. 235
  14. ^ "Cooper-Williams Bethroal Is Announced In Plainview". Wichita Falls Times. October 2, 1960. p. 2C.
  15. ^ "Carolyn Van Cooper Weds Max Williams in Plainview". Abilene Reporter-News. November 27, 1960. p. 3-C.
  16. ^ a b Sherrington, Kevin (January 24, 2010). "Small-town legend made mark on city". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  17. ^ "Max Williams Fired by Texas". Longview News-Journal. 12 April 1971. p. 2B.
  18. ^ "Hagen Quits Chaps; Williams Takes Over". Austin American. 15 January 1970. p. A35.
  19. ^ Chapin, Dwight (April 27, 1970). "Stars Finish Off Dallas, 124–123, on Raymond's Last-Minute Heroics". Los Angeles Times. sec. III p. 2.
  20. ^ "Blakely Named Coach Of Texas Chaparrals". The York Dispatch. York, Pennsylvania. United Press International. November 28, 1970. p. 19.
  21. ^ "Max Williams Dismissed From Chaparral Position". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. 13 April 1971. p. C2.
  22. ^ "Max Williams elected to C.A.A. board". Kerrville Mountain Sun. 26 March 1986. p. 12.
  23. ^ Hurt III, Harry (February 1981). "New Oil: The Giddings Gamble". Texas Monthly. pp. 176–77. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  24. ^ "Max Williams". Texas Sports Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on August 8, 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  25. ^ "Williams, Max". Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  26. ^ "UIL 100 Anniversary – Boys Basketball". University Interscholastic League. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
  27. ^ Pirtle III, Caleb (2011). "Chapter 4". Gamble in the Devil's Chalk. Venture Galleries. ISBN 9781456602925. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
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