A 1964 graduate of Academy High School, Williams played two seasons of basketball and baseball at Penn State Behrend.
Williams captained the basketball team that won the PJCAA
state championship in 1967, and was named MVP for both 1965-66 and
1966-67 seasons. He led both teams in scoring and rebounding
and broke career records for both.
In baseball, Williams was repeat letterman in 1966 and 1967 as
a power hitting first baseman. During the 1967 campaign, he
was named to the All-Region team. At that year's state junior
college tournament, he was selected to the All-Tourney team.
Because Penn State Behrend offered only two-year degrees at that time, Williams transferred to SUNY Fredonia, where he completed his bachelor degree. He continued to be an outstanding performer in basketball and baseball there, and was named one of the Outstanding College Athletes of America.