From the t-ball field to the largest field in high school baseball, Centennial High School’s varsity head coach Jon Williams has always been his sons’ biggest fans. For over a decade, Jon has coached his sons, Jacob and Nicholas, pushing them to achieve at the highest level in every aspect of their lives.
Prior to becoming the varsity head coach, Williams spent his time coaching little league. As Jacob and Nicholas grew up, Williams expanded his coaching skills. In 2019, he coached his first varsity baseball game at Centennial High School. Since then, he has grown the program, always keeping the success of his athletes a top priority.
This investment has benefited his players in all their pursuits on and off the field. In the spring of 2025, this investment paid off with Centennial’s first-ever state championship in baseball. Williams credits this success to the team’s calm demeanor and trust in each other. This investment in his athletes is a contributing factor as to why Williams was named the 5A Region Coach of the Year.
Beyond the numbers, Williams’s legacy is rooted in the young men he mentored and the culture he built. His eldest son, Jacob, Centennial Class of 2023, is attending Arizona State University where he is majoring in Microbiology. Nicholas is in his senior year at Centennial. Nicholas said, “When I step on the field, I’m not playing for my dad. I’m playing for a coach so it doesn’t feel any different. The only difference is his level of coaching and knowledge of the game is head and shoulders above other coaches I have had. He pushes me to be the best I can be every day.”
Williams’s players are known for their character and camaraderie in the community. Each year, players collect donations for the Banner Thunderbird Pediatric Oncology Department in honor of a former teammate who survived leukemia. The annual donation drive showcases the team’s compassion and unity, and reminds players of the power of community. Williams instills values of hard work, respect, and perseverance, shaping young athletes into responsible adults ready to face life’s challenges.
Athletics, at their best, are about more than competition, they are about growth, belonging, and transformation. Whether his athletes go on to play college ball or pursue careers and service in their communities, they carry with them the lessons Williams taught.
Williams has his sights set on the upcoming season. Jon says he loves the competitiveness of the sport which drives him to continue to find new ways to improve and also challenges him to be better each season. His Biggest reward is seeing the growth in each individual kid he gets to coach.
Read the complete fall edition of unifiED at www.peoriaunified.org/unified.