Donte Williams, just named the interim head football coach at USC, is a former Lancer. He played as a defensive back on the 2001 Pasadena City College Mission Conference champion squad that featured PCC Hall of Famers and All-Americans in running back Jonathan Smith and quarterback Nathan Chandler.

Williams was named interim HC for the remainder of the 2021 season after the Trojans fired Clay Helton on Monday. 

In 2001, Williams made 20 tackles as a safety and was part of the first conference champion team at PCC in 21 years. That Lancers team went 10-1 under then head coach (and still an instructor at the college) in Tom Maher. That squad remains the last Lancers' conference champion squad going into this year. Williams joined PCC after playing his prep ball at Culver City High.

PCC has its own new head coach this season in Robert Tucker, who took over the program as Director of Football Operations before the 2021 season.

Williams earned a scholarship to Syracuse University as a late transfer for his sophomore season in 2002-2003 and eventually wound up at Idaho State where an All-Big Sky First Team selection and team captain both his final two collegiate seasons. He earned his bachelor's degree in communication there. 

In 2007, Williams began his coaching career at LA Harbor College and he also made community college stops at El Camino and Mt. San Antonio. He served on several notable NCAA Division I 4-year university staffs including as cornerbacks coach at Arizona, Nebraska and Oregon.

Considered one of the nation's top recruiters, Williams joined the USC coaching staff in 2020 as cornerbacks coach and defensive pass game coordinator. He earned the title of associate head coach in December.