Larry Williams, a former Notre Dame and NFL offensive lineman who spent the past three-plus years as the University of San Francisco’s athletic director, died Thursday morning. He was 62.
Williams was working out at War Memorial Gym on campus at the time of his death, USF said in a news release. He had a “heart-related incident,” journalist John Canzano reported earlier on X.
“Our prayers go out to Larry’s wife, Laura, their children Kristin, Sean, Scott, Eric and Louis, their families and his grandchildren,” school president Salvador D. Aceves said in a statement. “My thoughts and prayers also go to the university’s 250 student-athletes and all the coaches and staff under Larry’s skillful watch.”
Williams grew up in Orange County, played at prep powerhouse Mater Dei-Santa Ana and earned All-America honors at Notre Dame. He spent five seasons in the NFL — playing in 61 games (mostly as a guard), including 44 starts — with the Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints and New England Patriots from 1986-92.
He earned a law degree from the University of San Diego during his playing days before becoming a practicing attorney in Indianapolis in 1994 after he retired from football. Williams subsequently shifted gears to pursue a career in athletic administration, initially returning to Notre Dame in 1999 to work as director of licensing, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Williams joined the Dons amid both triumph and turmoil in the Dons’ athletic department. USF’s men’s basketball team had made the NCAA Tournament earlier that year, for the first time since 1998.
Paul Fitzgerald, then the school president, called Williams “a person of great integrity” upon his formal introduction as athletic director.
“His previous experience has demonstrated he’ll step up and do the right thing at the right time for the right reason, even if nobody else is watching,” Fitzgerald said.
Williams and his wife, Laura Lee, have five adult children. Lee was an All-America tennis player at Notre Dame.
Stephanie Shrieve-Hawkins, USF’s deputy athletics director for administration and facilities since August 2024, has been named interim athletic director, according to Thursday’s news release.
