Bellarmine Names Former Stanford Linebacker Tom Williams as New Coach

Williams takes over a struggling Bellarmine football program that has won just 4 games over the past 3 seasons.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 6:23pm

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Bellarmine University has named Tom Williams, a former all-Pac-10 linebacker at Stanford, as its new head football coach. Williams, who has extensive coaching experience at the high school, college, NFL, and international levels, takes over a Bellarmine program that has struggled in recent years, going just 4-26 over the past three seasons.

Why it matters

Bellarmine was once a preeminent high school football program in the Central Coast Section, winning 8 section championships. However, the team has fallen on hard times recently, going winless in 2024. The hiring of Williams, who has a proven track record across multiple levels of the game, is seen as a move to help restore the program's competitiveness and culture.

The details

Williams, 56, has coached at Hawaii, Washington, San Jose State, and the Jacksonville Jaguars. He also served as the head coach at Yale from 2009-2011, but resigned amid controversy after admitting he made a false claim about being a Rhodes Scholarship finalist while at Stanford. Bellarmine's athletic director said the school thoroughly investigated Williams' past and felt comfortable moving forward with him as the new head coach, citing his integrity and alignment with the school's Jesuit values.

  • Bellarmine and former coach David Diaz-Infante parted ways after the 2025 season.
  • Williams was named Bellarmine's new head coach on January 28, 2026.

The players

Tom Williams

A former all-Pac-10 linebacker at Stanford who has extensive coaching experience at the high school, college, NFL, and international levels, including time as the head coach at Yale from 2009-2011.

David Diaz-Infante

The former head coach of the Bellarmine football team, who parted ways with the school after the 2025 season.

Kevin Saldivar

The athletic director at Bellarmine University, who oversaw the hiring process for the new head football coach.

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What they’re saying

“One of my favorite lines I use with the student-athletes here is, 'If we were all perfect, the world would be boring, right?' Part of athletics and anyone being a human is going through some obstacles in their life and learning from it and moving forward and making amends for the stuff they've done.”

— Kevin Saldivar, Athletic Director, Bellarmine University (eastbaytimes.com)

“I'm honored to have the opportunity to coach hardworking young men at a time when they're eager to learn, grow, and be challenged. My football philosophy centers on communication, discipline, accountability and strong team culture, and I'm deeply grateful for Bellarmine's vote of confidence and belief in my approach. I'm excited to get to work and help move Bellarmine football forward in a way that honors the school's tradition and values.”

— Tom Williams (eastbaytimes.com)

What’s next

Bellarmine and new head coach Tom Williams will look to quickly turn around the program's recent struggles, with the goal of restoring the school's tradition of football excellence in the West Catholic Athletic League.

The takeaway

The hiring of Tom Williams, a coach with a proven track record across multiple levels of football, signals Bellarmine's commitment to reviving its once-dominant football program. His experience and focus on building a strong team culture could be the keys to helping the Bells return to their winning ways.