Lehigh University Athletics
Odds are, professional success ahead for Williamson
10/31/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Senior Adam Williamson, a midfielder on the soccer team who is majoring in accounting, exemplifies what it means to be an athlete at Lehigh through his success on the field and in the classroom.
Dr. Kenneth Sinclair, Williamson’s advisor and one of his accounting professors couldn’t agree more.
“It is a significant achievement that he has majored in accounting, a rigorous area of study and is also a member of the varsity soccer team, where he plays a key role in their success,” Sinclair said.
Indeed, Williamson’s work in the classroom has paid off. Last summer he had an internship with KPMG, one of “The Big Four” accounting firms which led to him being offered a full-time job there upon graduation. For now though, Williamson is putting his accounting career on the backburner as he has a chance to be drafted and play Major League Soccer next summer. “It’s everyone’s dream growing up to play a professional sport,” he said. “If I can play soccer professionally, I figure I can always go back to accounting later on in life.” Williamson is banking on his past achievements in soccer to be noticed by MLS teams and he is hoping to be a part of the MLS combine this winter in Indeed, he has accomplished a lot so far in his three years playing for the Mountain Hawks. In addition to being part of the Olympic Development Team, he was a first team All-Middle Atlantic Region selection and also a first team All-Patriot League Selection. According to head coach Dean Koski, Williamson is a great all-around player on the field. “You can’t teach speed and he has it, which makes him a weapon,” Koski said. “He defends as much as he attacks and nobody is going to get by him defensively. At the same time, he’s going to get by the defense eight out of 10 times.” Williamson says one reason he has been so successful at Lehigh both on and off the field is because of some of the beliefs that were instilled in him by his parents when he was younger. “My father always pushed me to be the best I could be at everything I did,” he said. “When I was 15, I was on a team that was 90 minutes away and my parents would drive me to every practice. They always let me be on the best club and constantly supported me in everything I did.” Koski believes that Williamson brings the attitude he has on the soccer field and in the classroom to other parts of his life. “Adam is goal-oriented and just goes about his business,” Koski said. “He is conscientious about soccer and school and also about his family and social life.” If attracting people that can achieve on and off the field is a goal of Lehigh, it has certainly done so with Williamson. Perhaps Koski puts it best. “Kids like Adam achieving athletically and academically are great. He has a chance to go on to MLS without ever sacrificing his academic opportunities.” Williamson and his Lehigh teammates return to action on Saturday evening, when the Mountain Hawks travel to Easton to take on archrival Lafayette in a pivotal Patriot League showdown. Game time is set for 7:00. A complete preview will be available later in the week on lehighsports.com. Story by Stephen Graham, Media Relations Assistant
