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Courtesy of Clemson University

Ronald Williams (25) totes the ball against Appalachian State during the 1991 season. The former Clemson star will coach running backs at Seneca this season.

SENECA — Continuing what has already proved to be a fruitful offseason, Seneca High School football coach Ron Duncan has landed yet another marquee assistant coach, and one who brings back a flood of orange and white memories for Clemson fans.

Ronald Williams, a former All-ACC running back for the Tigers, is slated to coach his old position with the Bobcats this season, bringing with him a strong coaching record and a wealth of professional playing experience that has helped pave the way for him to return to the shadow of Death Valley.

That’s an opportunity Williams relishes, as he said he’s happy to be back near his old stamping grounds, where he was named the ACC Rookie of the Year in 1990 and was a member of the Tigers’ last ACC Championship squad in 1991.

“I’m very excited to be back,” Williams said. “It’s a great opportunity not just to coach football, but just to get into the teaching aspect of it, too. The football is just a plus from here on in.”

Following what was a stellar start to his career, as Williams garnered All-ACC honors in each of his first two years at Clemson, a roadblock was thrown his way in the form of a torn ACL, which jeopardized his career and led to him leaving school after the 1992 season.

After leaving the Tigers with 1,824 yards and 13 touchdowns in his career, while averaging a healthy 5.6 yards per carry, Williams briefly found his way onto the Cincinnati Bengals’ roster, before he went across the pond to join the Rhein Fire of NFL Europe.

Williams then caught on with the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League in 1996, and was a mainstay in the league until his retirement in 2002 after spending his final season with the Edmonton Eskimos.

Those experiences, though not necessarily reflecting the path Williams had envisioned for his professional career, were ones he said were invaluable to him leading into his post-playing career.

“Football took me all over the world, and I was very fortunate to come back from a severe injury and play professionally,” Williams said. “It taught me a lot about different cultures, and it helped me grow up to be the man I am.”

And with those experiences, Duncan knows his strong stable of running backs, including T.J. Boyd, Chris Robinson, Demarcus Taylor and C.J. Washington, will be paying extra-close attention to their new coach.

“After playing at Clemson and the kind of career he had there and of course having some NFL experience, he brings a lot of credibility,” Duncan said. “He’s been there and done it, and he’ll be a big help for our program.

“He’s a great guy and a great coach, and we know he’s going to get the most out of those running backs.”

If his playing career wasn’t enough to build an instant rapport with Seneca coaching staff, Williams is already plenty familiar with the recently-hired Jimmy Towe.

Towe coached Williams at Ninety Six High School in the late 1980s and also served as assistant alongside his former star at Greenwood from 2005-2008, where they helped the Eagles capture a state championship in 2006.

However, Williams said he didn’t actively speak with Towe about the position, though he figures his former coach played a hand in his hiring.

“I actually just talked with Coach Duncan, but I think him and Coach Towe had spoken behind closed doors and I think that’s how my name came up, and I’m very appreciative of it,” Williams said.

Despite his new affiliation at Seneca, Williams is also in well with the Bobcats’ rivals over at Daniel, as his son Deshaun Williams is one of the Lions’ top standouts.

Just now heading into his junior season, the younger Williams has already decided to follow in his father’s footsteps by playing for the Tigers, as the jumbo defensive tackle has given a verbal commitment to Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney.

The situation could be a bit awkward when Williams finds himself game-planning against his son in their Oct. 9 meeting in Central, though there won’t be any bad blood.

“That’s the main pickle in my far, I’ll tell you,” Williams said with a laugh. “That’s my son and I love him dearly and back him to the fullest, but he and I had a conversation and he understands it’s a job, and I had to have a job. I just couldn’t sit around and do nothing.

“And if he’s that good, I’ll find out personally.”