High Point University Athletics

Head coach Joey Hammond announced the addition of assistant coach Mickey Williard on July 14, 2021.

Williard returned to the college ranks after serving as the head coach of the Coastal Plains League's High Point-Thomasville HiToms in 2020. Williard led the HiToms to their seventh division title in the modern CPL era with a 24-7 record, coaching both the CPL Hitter and Pitcher of the Year. 

Coach Williard has had the opportunity to coach 26 players who have been drafted or signed professionally, including one first round draft pick and four others drafted in the top five rounds of the MLB Draft. In 2024, two guys were drafted (10th and 18th round) under Coach Williard, as another signed a professional contract with the Pioneer League. Records were broken during the 2024 season as Williard helped lead HPU to surpassing the single season home run record as it now sits at 92. As well as winning the most games in the HPU Division I era as the Panthers took home 35 wins. Winning their first ever Big South Championship led to a NCAA Regional birth as HPU beat Vanderbilt in the Clemson Regional to earn them their first regional win in program history. The 2024 HPU offense placed second in the conference with a team .293 batting average.

In 2023, Williard helped lead the Panthers to successfully stealing 97 bags after only attempting 64 the previous year in 2022. The bats came alive in the 2023 season, tallying 63 total home runs resulting in a season high record. 

Prior to leading the HiToms, Williard was a volunteer assistant coach at Towson for three years where he worked primarily with the infielders and served as the team's first base coach. The Tigers ranked in the top three in double plays turned in each of his final two seasons at Towson and saw the number of errors committed decrease sharply. No stranger to coach Hammond, Williard played under Hammond for two years at Westchester Country Day, where he also went on to serve as head coach for three years directly before joining Towson.
 
When Coach Hammond hired Mickey in July of 2021, he stated "I have been fortunate to know Mickey since his junior year in high school, and it was evident from an early age that he was born to coach. Coach Williard brings an attention to detail and commitment to the development process that will be a cornerstone for our program. He is a tireless worker that has deep roots to the program and a passion to see it excel. We welcome Mickey and his fiancé Leah to the Panther family."

Born and raised in High Point, North Carolina, Williard graduated from HPU with his Bachelor's degree in 2014. He earned his master's in business administration from Wake Forest in the spring of 2023.