Gainesville, Fla. - More than fifty years later, Steve Williams continues to minimize his role in University of Florida basketball history. A talented guard who helped lead Pensacola Washington to the 1970 Class 2A state championship, Williams committed to the Gators that same year.
He never set out to be a pioneer.
"My dream in life was to graduate from college and be the basketball coach at my high school in Pensacola," Williams said this week. "My intentions were not to start anything or make myself into something or try to change society. I was just trying to take advantage of an opportunity."
By becoming the first African-American basketball player at UF, recognition was inevitable. There can only be one first. Now 72 years old, Williams will be celebrated for his groundbreaking role in Florida basketball with an on-court tribute Saturday night as the third-ranked Gators (21-3, 8-3) face South Carolina (10-14, 0-11) in a sold-out SEC matchup at Exactech Arena/O’Connell Center.
[Read senior writer
Chris Harry's "Pregame Stuff" setup
here]
Steve Williams
For Steve Williams, this marks his second visit to the O’Dome this season. He previously attended the Virginia matchup on Dec. 4 as part of the program’s renewed initiative to celebrate its history. Under the guidance of Associate Athletic Director Dave Werner, now in his first year overseeing men’s basketball operations, the Gators have begun inviting a “distinguished letterman” — sometimes two — to each home contest. These alumni join the team for shoot-around, share the pregame meal, and then watch the game together.
The goal is to strengthen ties between past and present.
"It means a lot to meet and talk to the guys that paved the way for us," senior guard Will Richard said. "It's inspiring to see them come back and support us, so we want to honor them by making them proud with the way we play."
So far, the program has welcomed Mike Rollyson from the 1960s, Tony Miller from the ’70s, Clifford Lett and Brian Hogan from the ’80s, and Dametri Hill and Andrew DeClercq from the ’90s. This Saturday, the spotlight will be on Gene Shy, who spent two seasons as a teammate of Williams.
"Some of these former players we all recognize and some of them played a long time ago but had a tremendous impact on our program," said Dave Werner. "It's important for our [current] players to know their stories."
And when it comes to Steve Williams, his journey is certainly one worth telling.
Dave Werner
During his time with the Gators from 1971 to 1974, Steve Williams appeared in 74 games and totaled 595 points, 382 rebounds, and 248 assists while playing under coaches Tommy Bartlett and John Lotz. His varsity debut was memorable, as Florida stunned ninth-ranked Louisville — a team that went on to the Final Four that year.
Williams later scored 27 points in a victory over Army at Madison Square Garden and contributed to wins over Virginia Tech, the eventual NIT champion at the time. He also helped Florida defeat Kentucky twice.
As a senior, Williams was chosen as team captain. That season, he recorded a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double in a win against Auburn and played a key role in guiding the program to its first winning campaign in five years.
Steve Williams (33) to the rack on an Auburn defender in 1974l.
"Amazing memories," Williams said. "There were a couple negative things that happened along the way, but the positive things way overshadowed everything else. It was an excellent experience for me."
Those “negative things” were tied to the realities of the early 1970s in the South, during the aftermath of the Civil Rights Movement and the era of integration. Williams wasn’t just observing history — he was living it.
"You definitely heard things said, especially on the road," remembered UF Hall-of-Fame forward Chip Williams, who is not related.
Steve Williams rarely discusses those difficult moments and avoids naming the SEC towns where they occurred.
One example was when he entered a restaurant with a white teammate and was confronted by locals who told him to leave or face consequences.
"I was 18, so a lot of thoughts went through my head," Williams recalled. "I remember thinking, 'If I stay, there are too many of them. If I leave, I may end up with cement on my feet.' It was a situation I'll never forget, but it's not one I think about a lot. Things have changed. And it was never like that with my team."
Chip Williams emphasized that within the Gators, Steve was never viewed as a “Black teammate,” but simply as a teammate, a good person, and a strong player who carried the nickname “Grump.”
"A class act," Chip Williams said.
Steve Williams completed his degree in Physical Education/Health & Recreation in 1974 and began teaching at Newberry High for a year. Soon after, he returned to Washington High, fulfilling his dream of coaching basketball there. He led successful teams and came within a single basket — from Stevie Edwards, who later played at Kentucky — of reaching a state championship. His career later took him to Middleton and Steinbrenner high schools in Tampa, where he resides today. Back in his hometown, his contributions were never forgotten; in 2024, Washington High honored him by placing his name on the gymnasium floor.
Steve Williams and gymnasium floor named in his honor.
It was the kind of impact that came from the person, teacher, and coach Steve Williams became.
"He never talked about it, but we all knew," Derrick Brooks said this week. "Pensacola is a small town, and we had parents who told us about him."
Yes, that Derrick Brooks.
Brooks stands among the most accomplished athletes in Florida’s history, both at the collegiate and professional levels. He was a First-team All-American and national champion at Florida State, a first-round draft pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a seven-time All-Pro, and an eleven-time Pro Bowler. His accolades also include NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Super Bowl champion, Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year, and induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a first-ballot selection.
Before Derrick Brooks embarked on his remarkable two-decade career in athletics, he played basketball under Steve Williams at Washington High. The influence of Williams stayed with Brooks throughout his journey, shaping both his approach to sports and life.
"On the very first day of practice, he did not mess around," Brooks, now 51, recalled. "He told us we were going to be respectful; we were going to be disciplined; we were going to be accountable."
Williams established four core principles for his players, and they were non-negotiable:
- Give maximum effort
- Embrace accountability
- Bring the right attitude every day
- Enjoy the process
Pro Football Hall-of-Famer
Derrick Brooks
"It all aligned with everything – academics, athletics, my faith and character – that I was trying to be about at the time," Brooks said. "That was Coach."
That was Steve Williams. That was "Grump." A figure as modest, dignified, and quietly iconic as any to ever represent the Gators.
On Saturday night, more than 10,000 fans will gather to show their gratitude.
"I love to hear that the University of Florida is recognizing him at this stage of his life," Brooks said. "I'm going to celebrate it."
Steve Williams and wife Annette at a UF football game.
Although Derrick Brooks will celebrate from a distance, several of Steve Williams’ teammates from the early to mid-1970s will gather in Gainesville for a reunion organized by Chip Williams, a former first-team All-SEC standout and still ranked No. 32 among Florida’s all-time scorers. The group will reconnect, share memories, and enjoy each other’s company.
Welcome back, "Grump."
"My Florida experience was an excellent experience," said Williams, who has been married for 29 years and is the father of four children and grandfather to 10. "The negatives over the years I have pushed to the background and kept them from having influence on how I feel about the University of Florida. I love the University of Florida. If I had a choice, I would do it all over again."
Email senior writer Chris Harry at chrish@gators.ufl.edu
JOIN THE CONVERSATION: #GoGators
