Matthew “Matt” Williams, who recently completed his first season as White Hall High School’s boys basketball coach, died following a vehicle accident in the area of South Hazel Street and 41st Avenue Saturday night, Pine Bluff Police confirmed Sunday. He was 37.
Citing a preliminary investigation, police said in a news release Williams was traveling southbound on South Hazel Street in a white Nissan Altima when the vehicle collided with a 2015 GMC Sierra driven by Darrion William, 38, heading northbound on the street. The accident occurred at approximately 11:01 p.m.
“At some point the two vehicles collided and Darrion was ejected from his vehicle,” the release reads. “Darrion was later transported to Jefferson Regional Medical Center and listed as critical. Matthew was pronounced deceased on scene by Jefferson County Deputy Coroner Eric Belcher.”
The victims of both families were notified at the time of the release, according to police. Police ask anyone with information on the accident to call the detective office tip line at (870) 730-2106, the detective office at (870) 730-2090, or the dispatch center at (870) 541-5300.
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Williams was hired by the White Hall School District after spending one season at Texarkana’s Arkansas High School, one of White Hall’s rivals in the 5A-South Conference. He helped the Bulldogs finish 15-14 this season, just one game shy of making the 5A state playoffs but an improvement from White Hall’s 14-16 record in 2023-24.
“We are just saddened by the news about Coach Williams’ passing,” said WHSD Superintendent Gary Williams, who was not related. “He was in his first year with us. We’ve become fond of Coach Williams. His players, the coworkers and parents in the district found a great love for Coach Williams. A large part of that came from the type of person he was.”
Gary Williams recalled a comment a teacher made that Matt Williams “loved fiercely” and was loyal to his players.
“You could see how much he cared,” the superintendent said. “Just from some comments I heard, he was already ready to help, ready to serve. He had told his players, life can change in a moment, so live life to the fullest. Those words are good for us at a time like this. …
“We send prayers to his family and co-workers. We are going to work to support each other here at White Hall. We will work to take care of each other at this difficult time.”
Matt Williams studied at Arkansas State University and Southeast Missouri State University and had worked at large-school basketball powerhouses Springdale and Jonesboro before taking the Texarkana job.
Pine Bluff coach Billy Dixon said Matt Williams carried himself with good energy and was a good person to be around, having coached against Williams while the latter was at both Texarkana and White Hall.
“Just the short time I was around him, he was a good-spirited guy,” Dixon said. “He was positive, upbeat and trying to make (his) guys better. He was a player’s coach. I thought he got along well with the kids and was able to move the needle with the kids to get them to buy into what he was trying to get done. He was friendly and upbeat. He was always friendly when we bumped into each other.”
Dixon said he received a phone call Sunday morning about Williams’ death.
“Death is not something we’re always prepared for,” Dixon remarked. “It was a wild moment for me.”
Williams’ passing is the third involving a member of White Hall’s athletic department in two years. Benjamin Redix, a cornerback on White Hall’s 2021 state runner-up football team, was shot to death in North Little Rock in May 2023, one day before graduation and just days after winning the triple jump at the Meet of Champs. Redix’s coach, former University of Arkansas and NFL quarterback Ryan Mallett, drowned off the Florida Gulf Coast in June 2023 while on vacation.
Redix’s life was celebrated Saturday night with the second annual Benjamen Redix Project Gala, in which three men were honored for their contributions to the community and a Watson Chapel High School senior received a scholarship.
“I hate it for White Hall,” Dixon said. “They’ve been through this, and to get someone in (that) the community accepted and the kids embraced, that’s a big part of coaching. Being able to accomplish what he had in his first year, that’s a great testament to the type of coach he was.”
Having dealt with similar tragedies recently “unfortunately,” Gary Williams said district leaders know what is needed and what to expect in the wake of another loss.
“A lot of it means we have to be around each other,” he said. “Sometimes being around others to tell a funny story or a kind act, and sometimes sitting there in silence, whatever it takes, we will provide. We have local clergy who will support us at this time and churches who will be there for the kids. We’ll have a lot of conversations to see how we can support.”