Williams is Smithville basketball coach

Ashten Williams has been named the boys’ basketball head coach at Smithville High School. Williams graduated from Smithville in 2006, averaging 18 points per game and scoring 1954 career points.

She was selected as a 4-time MC6 basketball all-conference pick and MC6 MVP in her junior and senior years. She was selected for the Oklahoma Girls Basketball Coaches Association and Oklahoma Coaches Association all-state team.

Williams started her coaching career in Nashoba, coaching there for five years. She’s been coaching first through eighth grades at Smithville for the last three years and was the assistant coach for Smithville High School girls’ basketball and softball for the last year.

“I enjoy having the opportunity to coach in my hometown and give back to my community,” said Williams.

During her successful playing career, Williams says she learned some things from her coaches that she wants to pass along to her players. “The most valuable lesson I learned from my own coach is to invest in what you love, work hard and be accountable,” said Williams.

Williams will continue to coach third through fifth-grade girls and boys basketball and seventh and eighth-grade boys basketball. She will also be the softball junior high and high school assistant coach.

Williams said that there’s an adjustment to be made at the high school level, with much more time spent in preparation for practice and games.

She’s committed to her athletes, though, “Investing in athletes, passing on my love for the game and seeing them find success through their own hard work is what makes it all worthwhile,” Williams said.