Larry Williams, former NFL player and USF athletic director, dies at 62

Former NFL offensive lineman and University of San Francisco athletic director Larry Williams died Thursday at the age of 62 while working out at a campus gym, the school announced.

Williams was training at the school’s War Memorial Gym at the Sobrato Center at the time of his death, according to the university.

He played five seasons in the NFL from 1986 to 1992 after earning two All-American honors while playing for Notre Dame.

“Our prayers are with Larry’s wife, Laura, their children, Kristin, Sean, Scott, Eric and Louis, their families and his grandchildren,” University of San Francisco President Salvador D. Aceves said in a statement.

“My thoughts and prayers also go out to the University’s 250 student-athletes and all of the coaches and staff under Larry’s able watch.”

Williams, a California native, played for prep powerhouse Mater Dei before coming to South Bend.

The Browns drafted him in the 10th round of the 1985 NFL Draft and he played for the franchise from 1986 to 1988, appearing in 42 games while starting 33 contests.

He missed the 1989 and 1990 seasons due to injury before returning to play in six games with the Saints in 1991, then playing 13 games (nine starts) with the Patriots in his final season in 1992.

Williams has played in 61 games with 44 career starts.

He earned a law degree while he played and switched to law after his NFL career ended before returning to Notre Dame in 1999 to pursue licensing and product marketing, according to his school biography.

The University of Portland hired him as athletic director in 2004 before serving in that role for Marquette and Akron. San Francisco then hired him in 2022.

Stephanie Shrive-Hawkins has been named the school’s interim athletic director.

“‘USF represents to me the almost perfect combination of things that I cherish. No. 1, it’s the Catholic identity. No. 2, it’s the deep educational mission,'” Williams said after his hire, according to the school. “‘And number 3 is athletic participation in an environment that very specifically includes one and two. At this point in my career, there’s almost a professional element to what I do here at USF.'”