Lavell "Dinky" Williams was hired in January 2012 as the Bears' Director of Strength and Conditioning/Sports Performance.

He came to Northern Colorado after serving as Director of Strength and Conditioning at both Alcorn State University (2009-11) and Southern (2011-12).

With both programs Williams worked extensively at developing, implementing, conducting and monitoring the strength and conditioning programs of all athletic programs, including football, men's and women's basketball, baseball, softball, cross country and track, soccer, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's golf and bowling (Southern only).

In all, Williams brings with him to Northern Colorado Athletics more than a decade of experience in strength and conditiong and sports performance, having served on the strength and conditioning staffs of eight collegiate or professional sports teams.

Prior to his stint at Alcorn State, Williams was an assistant strength coach for men's basketball at Texas Tech (2007-08), head strength coach for the Arena II football team Lubbock Renegades (2006-09), assistant strength coach for football at Texas Tech (2005-09) and assistant strength coach for football and men's and women's basketball at Kansas (2005).

As an undergrad at Texas Tech Williams worked alongside the strength staffs of the Dallas Cowboys and the Arena Football's Dallas Desperados (2004-05) as well as with Arena II football team Rio Grande Valley Durados (2003-04).

Williams graduated from Texas Tech University with a bachelor's degree in human development and family studies in 2005 and then returned to his alma mater in 2009 and graduated with a master's degree in forensics.