At Scotland, Williams will succeed Mark Barnes, who resigned to become coach at Brevard.

Williams was hired as the Scots' new coach on Thursday and resigned the Wakefield position Friday. His departure means the Wakefield football team will have its sixth new coach in six years.

"The kids are the ones that have been affected the most," Wakefield athletic director Dexter Cooley said. "But they have been real troopers. Despite not having any continuity at head coach, our kids have managed to make the playoffs each year."

Cooley said he had evaluated the program and the reasons for the coaches' departures and can't find fault.

"We have great kids, a great support group, a great athletics program and a great school," he said. "But there is no denying that it hasn't been a good situation. It makes it tougher on the kids, not just in football, but in the weight room and in building relationships. We certainly hope our next coach will be here much longer."

Steve Rivers started the football program in 2000 but resigned in 2004, after his son Philip Rivers, who played quarterback at N.C. State, was drafted by the San Diego Chargers.

J. D. Dinwiddie coached the team in 2004 before Rivers came back for one season. Lee Atkins succeeded Rivers in 2006, and Williams came in to coach the 2007 season.

A 30-year coaching veteran, Williams built exceptional programs at Bertie, Greenville Rose and New Bern.

His New Bern teams played in three consecutive state 4-AA championship games before he temporarily retired. He has a 226-89-1 overall record.