Elko Adds Williams to Football Staff as Associate Head Coach of Defense, Linebackers Coach
Dec 23, 2025 | Football
BRYAN–COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Texas A&M head football coach Mike Elko announced the hiring of Travis Williams as the Aggies' associate head coach of defense and linebackers coach.
Williams brings more than 15 years of coaching experience, including six seasons as a defensive coordinator and two as a co-defensive coordinator. He joins Texas A&M following a three-year stint (2023-25) as defensive coordinator at the University of Arkansas, where he helped engineer some of the Razorbacks' strongest defensive performances in more than a decade.
In 2024, Arkansas ranked 34th nationally in rushing defense (129.2) and 37th in third-down conversion defense (.359). The Razorbacks recorded their first shutout since 2018 with a season-opening win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff and held fourth-ranked Tennessee to a season-low 14 points in a 19-14 victory. Arkansas also posted five first-half shutouts and produced five defensive touchdowns during the season.
In his first year in Fayetteville, Williams' defense finished 46th nationally, allowing just 357.2 yards per game, the program's lowest mark since 2014. The unit improved by nearly a full yard per play from the previous season and ranked 32nd nationally in passing defense (202.8). Arkansas also finished 36th nationally with 12 interceptions, including four returned for touchdowns to tie for the most in the FBS.
During his three seasons with the Razorbacks, Williams mentored linebacker Landon Jackson (2024) and defensive end Quincy Rhodes Jr. (2025) to All-SEC honors. Jackson was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the third round (72nd overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Prior to Arkansas, Williams spent two seasons (2021-22) at the University of Central Florida as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. Under his leadership, UCF reached the American Athletic Conference Championship Game in 2022 after posting a 9-4 record and earning a Military Bowl berth. The Knights also made a postseason appearance in the Gasparilla Bowl the following season.
From year one to year two at UCF, Williams' defense showed significant improvement in several areas, including red zone defense (52nd nationally to 5th), fourth-down conversion defense (53rd to 31st), and team passing efficiency defense (53rd to 39th). The Knights also ranked in the top 50 nationally in scoring defense in consecutive seasons.
In 2022, Williams coached senior linebacker Jason Johnson to First Team All-AAC honors after Johnson led the Knights with 119 tackles, ranking second in the conference and 19th nationally. During his first season at UCF, Williams mentored Big Kat Bryant and Divaad Wilson to All-AAC honors.
Williams previously spent seven seasons (2014-20) at his alma mater, Auburn University, serving in multiple roles. He began as a defensive analyst (2014-15), was promoted to linebackers coach (2016-18), and later served as co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach (2019-20). He also added recruiting coordinator duties in 2020.
From 2016-20, Auburn finished in the top 20 nationally in scoring defense four times and consistently ranked among the nation's best in red zone defense, third-down conversion defense, and rushing touchdown prevention. During that five-year span, the Tigers allowed just 54 rushing touchdowns, fifth-best nationally, including only eight in 2016 and nine in 2018.
From 2017-19, Williams coached three linebackers to All-SEC honors in Tre Williams (2017), Deshaun Davis (2018), and K.J. Britt (2019). Auburn's 2019 defense ranked eighth nationally in both red zone and third-down defense, allowing just 19.5 points per game against a schedule that featured six teams that went on to win at least 11 games. In 2017, Auburn won the SEC West behind a defense that ranked 14th nationally in total defense (319.4) and 11th in scoring defense (18.5).
Williams also served as defensive coordinator at Creekside High School in Georgia in 2013 and spent one season (2012) at the University of Northern Iowa as the linebackers coach. He began his coaching career at his high school alma mater, Spring Valley (S.C.), before serving as a graduate assistant on Gene Chizik's staff at Auburn from 2009-11, contributing to the Tigers' 2010 national and SEC championships runs.
A four-year letterwinner at Auburn (2002-03-04-05), Williams led the Tigers in tackles (80) during their undefeated 2004 season and recorded 68 tackles as a senior in 2005. He was a team captain, earned First Team All-SEC honors in 2004, participated in the 2006 Senior Bowl, and received the Pat Dye Leadership Award in each of his final two seasons, along with the 2005 Zeke Smith Award for defensive player of the year. Williams went on to play two seasons (2006-07) in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons.
A native of Columbia, S.C., Williams graduated with a bachelor's degree in criminology and criminal justice from Auburn in 2005. He went on to earn his master's degree in adult education from the university in 2011.
Williams is married to the former Jeanine Grimes of New Orleans, La., and they are the parents of four daughters, Tru, Reign, Brave and Wyn.
