The Department of Athletics is always looking for ways to promote the accomplishments of its former student-athletes and will be conducting a series of Alumni Spotlight's to highlight their professional accomplishments. If you have a success story you would like to share, please contact Assistant AD for External Relations Tim Lutz at tlutz1@aum.edu or at 334-244-3832. He can also be reached on Facebook or Twitter (@timlutz). We would love to hear from you and share your accomplishments.
 
Today's Alumni Spotlight features Haley Williams, a two-sport student-athlete for AUM. Williams, a Dothan, Ala., native lettered in women's basketball from 2010-12, before playing a season of women's soccer during the 2012 season.
 
Williams joined the women's basketball team in 2010, following a two-year stint at Southern Union Community College. In her first season in the program, Williams appeared in 25 games, averaging 2.4 points and 1.3 rebounds per contest. During her senior campaign, she upped her production to 3.9 points per contest and appeared in 26 games. During her tenure, Williams helped the team to 28 victories.
 
On the soccer pitch, Williams and the Warhawks finished 11-6-2 in her lone season with the program. She appeared in 11 games for the team, tallying four goals and an assist on just 12 shots.
 
Williams earned NAIA Scholar Athlete honors in both basketball and soccer following her final seasons and also garnered All-Academic accolades from the Southern States Athletic Conference each year.
 
Now, Williams is in her fifth year of teaching math and coaching girl's soccer at her alma mater, Northview High School. She has led the Cougars to the Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 6A State Final Four the past three seasons and was named the Dothan Eagle's Super 12 Coach of the Year the past four seasons. Additionally, she served as the junior varsity girl's basketball coach her first three seasons at Northview, before focusing on soccer and teaching AP Calculus, among other courses.
 
For more information on what Haley is doing and how AUM played a role in her professional success, please check out the Q&A below.
 
1. Where are you living now and what are you doing? Did you know you always wanted to do what you are doing professionally?
I am currently living in my hometown of Dothan, Ala., and teaching math/coaching girls soccer at my alma mater, Northview High School. I always knew I wanted to be a teacher and coach, but I did not decide on a specific subject to teach until my senior year of high school. I actually chose math because of my Calculus teacher. I am a female athlete good at math, so I enjoy sharing my passion for the sports I love as well as inspiring more girls to pursue STEM.
 
2. How did your time as a student and student-athlete at AUM prepare you for your career and life after college?
Being a student-athlete at AUM taught me discipline, time-management skills, leadership skills, and the value of hard work. These skills have stayed with me as a coach, and now I get to share them with my players. It gives me a feeling of accomplishment to watch my players grow and mature on many levels throughout their career at Northview. Being a math major and coming through the math education program challenged me on an extremely high level intellectually. I felt challenged in every math class I took, and it definitely made me a better teacher.
 
3. What are your goals for the near future in regard to your career? Do you have a plan for the next 2-3 years?
One of my major goals for the near future is for my girls to win a 6A State title in soccer. A couple of other goals I would like to accomplish or get started on in the coming years would be to go back to school and get my masters degree and to start coaching at the collegiate level.
 
4. When is the last time you've been to campus. How has the campus changed?
The last time I visited AUM was over the summer. The campus has added a new set of dorms and updated the gym floor design, but it is just as beautiful as it always has been.
 
5. What originally attracted you to AUM as a student-athlete?
The atmosphere on campus attracted me to AUM. Coach Davis and the women's basketball team made me feel welcome, and they sold me on the family-type atmosphere of being on the team. I felt at home when I first visited the school and still feel that way today whenever I come back to visit.
 
6. What are some of your most memorable moments from your time as a student-athlete at AUM?
Some of my favorite memories at AUM include: beating Loyola at home on senior night, scoring my first career soccer goal, and any moment that I spent with my basketball and soccer teammates. I never realized how much I would miss hearing "Hey Tiny!" until I was gone. I also miss my math classes and professors. There were never a lot of us in those classes so we bonded over being some of the few people crazy enough to be math majors.
 
7. How often do you keep in touch with your former teammates?
I keep up with a handful of my former teammates on social media, but I do not reach out as often as I probably should. I definitely miss spending time and hanging out with them, specifically "Thank you Thursdays" at Moe's! I do speak with Coach Davis—especially during my soccer season—and he has been a mentor for me since I started coaching.

8. What are some things you enjoy doing in your free time?
I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, working out, and watching soccer. I am also a big movie goer and enjoy going to the theaters.

9. What advice would you have for the current student-athletes at AUM?
Enjoy every single moment you get to spend playing the sport you love. It goes by way too fast! Also, invest in spending time and creating connections with your teammates. They will become like your family and it makes going out and competing with them a lot more meaningful and fun. 

10. Anything else you would like to share with the AUM community?
I still enjoy keeping up with the athletic teams and visiting the campus. I am very proud to be an AUM Warhawk!