Northwest Notes Aptil 7, 2020

Lake City grad Williamson named assistant men’s soccer coach at Gonzaga

SPOKANE — James Williamson, who played soccer at Lake City High and was an assistant coach at North Idaho College, was named assistant coach for Gonzaga’s men’s soccer team on Monday, Bulldogs head coach Paul Meehan announced.

Williamson graduated from Lake City in 2009, where he played soccer for four seasons, football for two and basketball for one. In soccer, he was named first-team all-5A Inland Empire League as a senior.

He played soccer at NAIA Corban University in Salem, Ore.

He was an assistant men’s soccer coach at NIC in 2016, then spent two seasons as assistant women’s soccer coach at Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, and was associate head coach at Corban last season.

“I am thrilled about the opportunity to join the Bulldog family,” Williamson said. “Joining a nationally-recognized institution like Gonzaga is a dream come true for my family and me, and having the chance to work under coaches Meehan and (Aaron) Lewis, whom both had a tremendous impact on me as a player, is one that I am deeply thankful for.”

“I recruited James to Corban in 2012, and he arrived as a very mature player and an amazing teammate,” Meehan said. “The players loved him for his work ethic, grittiness, respectfulness and kind heart. I know he will bring those qualities and more to Gonzaga, as he is the perfect fit and will contribute greatly to the program. Like Aaron, James and I have kept in touch over the years, and we know each other well which will augment the transition and enhance his ability to hit the ground running.”