Central College Athletics

Landon Williams was named men's wrestling coach at Central College in 2024.

In his first season at Central the Dutch finished tied for second in the American Rivers Conference, the program's best finish in the league in over 30 years. The school made its debut at the NWCA National Dual tournament, placing 18th. Two Central wrestlers qualified for the NCAA Division III Championships and Pierre Baldwin earned his first All-american accolade by placing sixth.

Williams is the Region VI Representative on the National Wreslting Coaches Association Leadership Group and the NCAA Division III Championships Seeding Committee.

Remaining heavily involved in youth wrestling, Williams is a board member of Iowa USA Wrestling. He also has been a member of the coaching staff for Team Iowa at Fargo Nationals since 2021.
           
An Eldridge, Iowa native and Davenport Assumption Catholic High School graduate, Williams posted a 47-0 record with a state title as a high school senior. He was also a two-time USA Folkstyle All-American for the Young Guns Wrestling Club. At Wartburg, Williams compiled a 135-15 career record and was a part of four Division III championship teams at Wartburg, serving as team captain for two seasons. He spent an additional season as a Wartburg assistant then taught high school physical education at Holy Cross School in New Orleans from 2015-19. He was an assistant coach there for three seasons before spending a year there as director of wrestling. He helped lead Holy Cross to a Division I state championship while finishing third twice and second once during his tenure. Eleven of his wrestlers claimed individual state crowns. He also co-founded the Bayou Elite Wrestling Club, helping lead 50 wrestlers to USA state titles.
           
In 2019, Williams helped launch and operate The Burg Training Center in Waverly, providing individual instruction for youth and high school wrestlers. He served as a volunteer assistant at Wartburg in 2019-20, then was named the program's top assistant the following year. The Knights captured the NCAA Division III title in 2022 and finished second in 2023 and 2024. Wartburg wrestlers received all-America honors 25 times during his four years as the lead assistant.
           
Prior to joining the Dutch staff, Williams had a close Central connection. His wife, Rachel Cassens Williams, is a 2016 Central graduate and a former member of the Dutch women's golf team while also serving as an athletic training student. 

Achievements

Central College - head coach

• 11-4 (.733) overall, 6-2 (.750) in American Rivers Conference matches in one season
• (2) NCAA Division III Championships individual qualifiers
• (1) NCAA Division III All-American (2025 - Pierre Baldwin, 6th - 141 pounds)

Athletics career

Wartburg College

• (3) NCAA Division III All-America honors
• 135-15 career record at Wartburg
• (2) seasons as team captain