Dedication of Phil Williamson Stadium at Cleaveland Field held Saturday
In the culmination of Phil Williamson Day during Homecoming 2011; Phil Williamson Stadium at Cleaveland Field was dedicated to honor the longtime athletic director and coach, who served LaGrange College for 42 years.
Williamson was also honored at a breakfast, served as grand marshall for the Homecoming Parade and participated in the ceremonial coin toss prior to the Panthers' football game with Trinity (Texas).
Under Williamson, the LaGrange
College athletics program has grown substantially. The program has
grown from three teams (men’s and women’s tennis,
men’s basketball) to the present 16 teams, playing in nine
different intercollegiate sports. In recent years the school has
added women’s basketball (1999), football (2006) and
women’s lacrosse (2010).
Williamson led the school’s transition from leaving the
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) to
becoming a member of National Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA) Division III in 2002. He was also instrumental in the
creation of the Great South Athletic Conference, of which LaGrange
is a charter member. Williamson also served as the commissioner for
the GSAC.
