WILL TO WIN: Georgetown Reportedly Hiring Virginia Assistant Coach Jason Williford

Ed Cooley reportedly gets top ACC assistant on his staff

Jeff Goodman’s report indicates that your Georgetown Hoyas are set to hire Jason Williford, the highly respected associate head coach from the University of Virginia, to join Ed Cooley’s staff on the Hilltop. This isn’t just adding an assistant; it’s bringing in a coach steeped in championship culture, player development, and defensive intensity from one of the ACC’s most successful programs over the last decade and a half. Coach Williford is the complete package and a winner.

For Georgetown fans eager for the program’s resurgence, this potential hire signals a major injection of experience and proven success. Williford, a former UVA player himself, has been a cornerstone of Tony Bennett’s staff for 16 years, playing an integral role in the Cavaliers’ rise to national prominence.

Virginia Roots

Before becoming a key figure on the sidelines, the Richmond native was a tough, 6-foot-6 forward known for his competitiveness and leadership during his playing days from 1991-1995.

Williford was part of UVA teams that experienced significant postseason success, escalating each year:

• NIT Championship as a freshman (1991-92)
• NCAA Sweet 16 (1992-93)
• NCAA Second Round (1993-94)
• NCAA Elite Eight as a team captain (1994-95)

Virginia fans remember him as a player who did the dirty work – tough defense, hard rebounding, vocal leadership. After graduation, Williford played professionally overseas in Iceland and Korea, earning MVP honors in Iceland and All-Star recognition in Korea, while also beginning his coaching journey with an under-20 club team.

Williford’s Role in UVA’s Golden Era

In 2009, when Tony Bennett arrived in Charlottesville to rebuild the Virginia program, one of his first and most crucial hires was Jason Williford. Williford became one of Bennett’s “day-ones,” a loyal assistant who was there for the entire journey.12 He served nine seasons as an assistant coach before being promoted to associate head coach following the 2017-18 season.

During Williford’s 16-year tenure on staff, Virginia basketball reached unprecedented heights:

• NCAA National Championship (1): 2019 – First in program history; completed remarkable redemption arc after 2018 UMBC loss
• ACC Regular Season Titles (6): 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023 – Tied for most in ACC since 2014; consistent dominance in a premier conference
• ACC Tournament Titles (2): 2014, 2018
• NCAA Tournament Appearances (10): 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024
• 30+ Win Seasons (4): 2013–14, 2014–15, 2017–18, 2018–19 – Demonstrated elite level consistency; program record 35 wins in 2019
• AP No. 1 Ranking: Achieved in 2018 (first time since 1982)

This sustained excellence wasn’t accidental. It was built on Bennett’s famed “Five Pillars” (Humility, Passion, Unity, Servanthood, Thankfulness) and a distinct style of play, particularly the suffocating “Pack Line” defense. Williford was instrumental in implementing and teaching this system day-in and day-out.

Having been present from the initial 15-16 season in 2009-10 through the national championship and beyond, Williford possesses a deep understanding of the entire process of building a program from the ground up, installing a culture, navigating adversity (like the historic UMBC loss), and sustaining elite performance. This experience in the methodical construction of a winner is precisely what Georgetown needs as Coach Cooley continues his rebuild.

The Playbook: What Williford Brings to the Hilltop

Beyond the championship ring, what does Jason Williford offer Georgetown? His reputation among peers and his specific skill set paint a picture of a significant coaching asset.

1. Overall Reputation – The “Complete Package”: Williford is widely regarded as one of the best assistants in the country. In a 2020 poll of ACC assistant coaches conducted by Stadium’s Jeff Goodman, Williford was voted the top assistant in the conference. An anonymous ACC peer described him as the “complete package,” praising his evaluation skills, communication, and coaching ability, adding, “He can do — and does it all”. Tony Bennett echoed this sentiment, calling Williford loyal, trustworthy, and possessing “very good in-game instincts”.11 Bennett predicted it was “only a matter of time before he goes from associate head coach to leading his own program”. His standing was further cemented by his induction into the A Step Up Assistant Coaches Hall of Fame in May 2024. He’s been considered a head coaching candidate for other jobs in the past, including speculation about succeeding Bennett at UVA.
2. Recruiting Prowess & Evaluation: Bennett explicitly lauded Williford’s recruiting contributions, and his peers recognize him as a “great evaluator”. As a Richmond native with deep Virginia roots, he brings strong connections within the vital DMV recruiting territory. While often working alongside other skilled recruiters at UVA, his ability to identify and attract talent is well-established. There is also a Team Takeover connection as Williford’ son Austin played there and is heading to St. Joseph’s next season.
3. Defensive Acumen: Coming from 16 years immersed in Virginia’s Pack Line defense – a system renowned nationally for its effectiveness – Williford brings elite defensive knowledge. His potential candidacy for the William & Mary head coaching job was explicitly linked to bringing that defensive identity. He understands the principles and teaching points of constructing a top-tier defense, having coached it for years. His defensive eye is sharp; notably, while coaching former Hoya Dante Harris after his transfer to UVA, Williford observed Harris had the potential to be a better on-ball defender than UVA’s defensive stalwart Kihei Clark, calling his quickness “scary”.
4. Player Development Focus: Perhaps most exciting for Hoya fans is Williford’s track record in player development. Bennett praised him directly: “He knows how to push players and still encourage them at the same time… He’s done a terrific job recruiting and then developing many of our top players at UVA over the years”. At UVA, Williford especially worked with the team’s forwards and big men. Consider these examples:

• De’Andre Hunter: Recruited by the staff, the 6’8” Hunter redshirted his first year. Williford discussed his development path, highlighting his versatility to guard multiple positions and contribute offensively. Hunter blossomed into the 2019 Final Four Most Outstanding Player, an NBA lottery pick, and a key piece of the national championship team.
• Mamadi Diakite: An athletic 6’9” prospect from Guinea, Diakite developed significantly under the UVA staff, becoming a crucial interior presence known for scoring and shot-blocking. Williford identified him early as a player needing to step up his development. Diakite hit one of the most iconic shots in UVA history in the 2019 Elite Eight and went on to play in the NBA.
• Jay Huff: Another player who redshirted, the 7-footer developed his shooting touch and defensive presence over his career. Williford noted his potential early, even when discussing the rationale for redshirting. Huff also reached the NBA.

The success in molding players like Hunter, Diakite, and Huff—talented but not necessarily top-5 recruits who became high-level contributors and professionals—points to a particular strength in maximizing frontcourt potential.

This ability to identify and nurture forwards and centers could prove immensely valuable as Coach Cooley shapes the Georgetown roster for versatility and depth.

The Cooley-Williford Impact on the Hilltop

Adding Williford isn’t just about acquiring talent; it’s about strategic fit. His background appears highly complementary to Coach Cooley’s established strengths. While Cooley is known for his ability to connect with players, build program energy, and develop dynamic guard play, Williford brings deep experience from a system predicated on meticulous defense, structured offense, and methodical player development, particularly with forwards.

This hire could significantly boost Georgetown’s recruiting efforts. Williford’s stellar reputation combined with his DMV roots should resonate with local talent. Furthermore, his association with UVA’s model of developing less-heralded recruits into stars offers a compelling pitch to prospects valuing long-term growth.

Defensively, while Georgetown won’t simply replicate the Pack Line, Williford’s understanding of its principles – discipline, positioning, team rotations – could certainly influence and enhance the Hoyas’ approach on that end of the floor. Adding an assistant coach with 16 years of experience, including a national title run, provides Cooley with another high-level strategist for game planning and player management.

Bringing in a key figure so deeply ingrained in the Bennett system suggests Cooley may be looking to strategically blend his own successful style with elements of the discipline and defensive consistency that marked Williford’s time at Virginia. This fusion could lead to a more robust, adaptable, and ultimately successful program identity for the Hoyas.

No one would complain if GU followed the UVA trajectory–but hopefully Cooley and the Hoyas don’t take the air out of the ball and aim to win games in the low 60-point range.

Landing Jason Williford is a statement. This isn’t merely filling a spot on the bench; it’s acquiring a coach widely viewed as having head coach potential. His name has surfaced in previous head coaching searches, indicating the respect he commands in basketball circles.

For Ed Cooley and Georgetown, attracting an associate head coach of Williford’s caliber from a program like Virginia underscores a serious commitment to building a championship-contending program on the Hilltop. It signals ambition and the willingness to invest in top-tier coaching talent. This move is another clear piece of Cooley’s strategy to assemble a formidable staff capable of navigating the challenges of the Big East and competing on the national stage. Furthermore, adding someone with 16 years of intimate knowledge of a major regional program like UVA provides valuable perspective on recruiting landscapes and high-level preparation strategies.

Pairing Williford’s strengths with Cooley’s vision and energy creates a potentially powerful combination. This reported hiring is another significant step forward in the mission to restore Georgetown basketball to its place among the nation’s elite. Adding proven winners with diverse expertise is how you build sustainable success.

Welcome to the Hilltop, Coach Williford! Hoya Saxa!