Mary Willis Joins Huntingdon College Strength and Conditioning Staff

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Mary Willis return to Huntingdon as the assistant strength and conditioning coach under Coach Charlie Goodyear.

Mary Willis returns to Huntingdon College as assistant strength & conditioning coach under Coach Charlie Goodyear in 2023. She is extremely grateful and says, "I would like to thank Coach Goodyear and the Huntingdon College Administration for this opportunity. Coach Goodyear and the Huntingdon College Athletic Department have already had an enormous impact on my success both personally and professionally. I am blessed to have the rare opportunity to come back to the place where my passion and purpose for strength and conditioning began.  I am excited and ready to start working with the student-athletes, and to continue developing the championship culture of Huntingdon College Strength and Conditioning."

Prior to returning to Huntingdon, Willis served as a Graduate Assistant strength coach at Valdosta State University. During her year stint, she managed program design and implementation of training for Women's Basketball, Soccer, Cheerleading, and Dance; and assisted with Football.

Willis spent most of her strength & conditioning career at Alabama State University, where she served three years as an Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach. Over the course of three years, Willis oversaw Women's Soccer, Volleyball, Men's and Women's Track & Field, Women's Bowling, Baseball and Softball; and assisted with Football. In the spring of 2022, Willis acted as the Interim Director of Strength & Conditioning, as well as Head Strength & Conditioning Coach for Football.

In 2018, Willis began her journey into strength & conditioning as an intern under Coach Goodyear. As an intern, Willis assisted with Football, Softball, Men's & Women's Basketball, Men's & Women's Soccer, Men's & Women's Golf, and Women's Lacrosse. 

From 2015 - 2019, Willis served as an Assistant Volleyball Coach for Indoor and Beach Volleyball at Huntingdon College. Prior to Huntingdon, she was the Head Volleyball Coach at Tennessee Temple University. As head coach, she led Tennessee Temple to a 23-15 record and the Crusaders' first appearance in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association national tournament.

As a student-athlete, Willis was a four year starter (2009 - 2013) for the volleyball program at Toccoa Falls College and set the current school record for career assists. During her stint, she earned All-American honors from the NCCAA and American Volleyball Coaches Association. She was a two-time NCCAA first-team All-Region selection and a two-time NCCAA second-team All-Region selection.

Willis obtained a bachelor's degree in Secondary English Education from Toccoa Falls. She is currently working toward completing her Master's degree in Higher Education Leadership from Valdosta State University. Willis holds the USTFCCCA Advanced Strength & Conditioning Coach Certification, as well as the USAW Level 1 Coaching Certification.

Coach Charlie Goodyear on the hire of Willis, "I am very excited to have Coach Willis back at Huntingdon College. Mary knows, understands, and believes in the Philosophy and Mission of our Strength and Conditioning Department. She has accrued a wealth of experience in her career and will be an immediate asset to our student-athletes, our athletic department, and to our college."