Bulls player coaches at ORU
By Micah Ortega

Corrie Williams, Former NFL and NBA star and now ORU Assistant Men's Basketball Coach, has been escalating from faith to faith and from glory to glory. How high can one man go?

Born in a small town in Twiggs County, Ga. and reared in a single-parent household, Corrie Williams never dreamed he would grow up to not only touch the stars but also to be a star. Williams is the Assistant Men's Basketball Coach at ORU and has played professional sports in the NFL as well as the NBA with the Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan. Williams' key to success is not to let fate determine his destiny but to allow God to determine it. "With man it might not be possible, but with God all things are possible," he said. Williams knows that God is the director of his destiny and he sits back and enjoys watching God's plan unfold.

As a gifted young athlete, Williams was recruited to play basketball by Oklahoma State University. He could run the 40-yard dash in 4.28 seconds. As his collegiate season was winding down, Williams said, "God took it a step higher!"

Even though he was a basketball player, he said that NFL scouts came to one of his basketball games and they liked what they saw. One day while he was sleeping, he got a recruitment phone call from the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs. Although no one from the OSU football team was drafted for the NFL that year, he was drafted. Williams said that God likes to "shock the world!" and that while he was asleep God was working for him. "When you have God on your side you have more than enough. I boast in God! 'Eye has not seen nor ear heard what God has in store for the ones who love Him.' " And if playing for the NFL were not enough for Williams, again God took him higher. He wanted Williams to reach a little farther into his destiny, grasp more of his dreams and revel in God's goodness.

What could be better for a young basketball player than to be drafted into the NFL? What about playing side by side with Michael Jordan and the NBA's Chicago Bulls? While still in training practice for the Chiefs, Williams was invited to attend an NBA pre-draft basketball camp in Chicago. At this point, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Chicago Bulls and the Charlotte Hornets were all vying for Williams. He was the thirty-third pick of the second round for the Bulls, and the Lakers and Hornets were waiting to see if he was chosen. Williams said, "You can imagine. I got a chance to play with my favorite basketball player [Michael Jordan], on the highest level ever [the NBA]. God made all this possible. He created the opportunity and I thank Him."

Williams rubbed shoulders with Scottie Pippin, B.J. Armstrong and John Paxon. Jordan liked practicing with Williams because Williams played good defense. Jordan even gave him the nickname "Pee Wee."

Williams said the reason Jordan was so good was Jordan's quick first step and that the fact that Jordan was a well rounded athlete. "He can jump, shoot, pass and he's smart." Williams said when you have all these skills working together "the sky's the limit. You can score or help someone else score."

Williams said Jordan always put in 110 percent during practice. And had a "work ethic [that was] second to none." Williams said this would cause others to step up their games and go a little higher. Williams received a championship ring that year when the Bulls beat out the Suns for the NBA Championship Title.

Today, Williams is happily married and has a precious three-year-old daughter. He is in his fourth season as assistant coach for the ORU men's basketball team. Williams encourages people to find God and then let God fulfill their every need and desire. "It begins with a simple prayer from your heart. God speak to me, help me to see, create in me a new heart," he said. Williams went a little higher than playing ball with Michael Jordan; Williams is playing ball with God. He uses the lessons and prestige he received from the Chicago Bulls to help young men and women grow spiritually and become better people. He also recently had the opportunity to accompany President Richard Roberts to Nigeria.

When asked what his future holds, he said, "I don't know what's in the future, [but] my life is in God's hands and I can breathe a sigh of relief; God has everything in control." So from the NFL to the NBA, and from Twiggs County, Ga. to international renown, Williams exemplifies the statement that "with man it might be impossible, but with God all things are possible!"

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