The Gregg Williams Foundation, Inc. was founded in December 2004 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization to fund programs for kids in the Excelsior Springs, MO area. The Foundation also donates funds to various community organizations to help improve the community as a whole. The Foundation is named for Gregg Williams, a 1976 Excelsior Springs High School graduate who was a record-breaking Tiger athlete in football, basketball & baseball. He started his career as a teacher and a football and basketball coach in the Excelsior Springs School District in 1980. He has since gone on to become one of the NFL’s most widely known and sought-after Defensive Coordinators in the league today. His NFL career began at the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans in 1990 as a Quality Control Specialist, but quickly worked his way up the Defensive Coordinator position in 1994. In 2000, the Titans defense was ranked No. 1 in the league before he moved on to his first Head Coaching position in Buffalo. After a 3-year stint in Buffalo (2001-2003), he returned to the position he loved and spent 4 years at the Washington Redskins as the Defensive Coordinator/Assistant Head Coach (2004-2007), a 1-year stint in the same position in Jacksonville (2008), and then joined the New Orleans Saints in 2009, the year in which he turned their defense around. This was the year the Saints were Super Bowl Champions and Gregg finally had his ring. He remained with the Saints until the end of the 2011 season, and Gregg is currently with the St Louis Rams starting the 2012 season as their new Defensive Coordinator. The Foundation hosts several fund-raising events throughout the Excelsior Springs area and beyond, but the primary source of income for the Foundation is derived from the various fund-raising activities around the annual Gregg Williams Tiger Classic Golf Tournament. This is a 3-day event which includes the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Dinner, a Tiger Classic Reception & Dinner for all golfers, the Tiger Golf Classic Golf Tournament with various auctions, raffles, donations and sponsorships. The Tiger Classic is a large community event and sells out quickly each year with over 80 golf teams. 2012 looks to be a banner year for the Foundation, as the organization will reach $1,000,000 in total funds raised since 2005. At the end of 2011, the Foundation has given back over $626,000 to community and school programs for kids in the Excelsior Springs area, with the remaining 99% of funds being spent in the area to pay for the event expenses, fund-raising expenses, taxes, fees, etc. Board of Directors: Gregg Williams - Founder Tray Harkins – President Jeff Woods – Vice President Kelly Harkins – Treasurer Jack Talley – Active Board Member Basketball fans can thank the Gregg Williams Foundation for the new four-sided scoreboard that now fills the space over centercourt at ESHS. Photo by Kim Simmons, Excelsior Springs Standard Kansas City metro high school football teams from both sides of the state line have benefited from the annual Gregg Williams Football Coaching Clinics held in Excelsior Springs as a kickoff event of the Tiger Classic. Proceeds from the 2005 Tiger Classic helped to equip the ESHS weight room. The ESHS weight room program is now paving the way for Tiger athletes (and all ESHS students) to be the best they can be. The facility is designed to help all athletes, even those who may be injured. Unilateral leg press equipment, for example, is available and is an excellent excercise for an athlete who cannot do squats due to an injury. Workouts on the leg press can actually help rehabilitate the injury. The Gregg Williams Foundation also supports local organizations that benefit the Excelsior Springs School District. Pictured at left, the Excelsior Springs Kiwanis Club received a $2,500 donation from the Foundation. Return to top