COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Maryland head coach DJ Durkin announced on Thursday that Jafar Williams and Dave Bucar have joined the Terrapin football coaching staff. Williams will serve as the running backs coach and Bucar will coach the Maryland tight ends. “I’m excited to welcome Jafar and Dave to our program,” said Durkin. “Jafar is a Terp and has a real passion for Maryland. He’s done an outstanding job developing players at each of his coaching stops. Dave has worked with Coach Canada at both LSU and Pitt. He has a strong football mind and our players will benefit with Dave on staff.”
Williams, a 2003 graduate of Maryland, spent the past two seasons coaching wide receivers at Rutgers. In his first season with the Scarlet Knights, Williams mentored Jawuan Harris to 39 receptions for 481 yards, which led all Big Ten freshmen. Andre Patton, who went on to sign an NFL contract, led the unit with 13.9 yards per catch and five touchdowns.
A native of Philadelphia, Williams was hired as running backs coach at Purdue in 2013. He helped Markell Jones break the Boilermaker’s freshman rushing record in 2015 with 875 yards on 168 carries, finishing eighth overall in the Big Ten with 72.9 yards per game. In 2014, Akeem Hunt tallied 949 yards on the ground before going on to sign an NFL contract with the Houston Texans.
Williams joined Purdue from his running backs position at Kent State where in 2012 he coached one of the nation's top rushing tandems in Dri Archer (third round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers) and Traylon Durham. Under Williams' direction, the duo combined to rush for 2,745 yards and 30 touchdowns in 14 games. Archer was named an Associated Press, Walter Camp, ESPN.com and Sporting News All-American following the regular season.
Prior to working two seasons at Kent State, Williams was the special teams quality control assistant at Northwestern (2010), served as the wide receivers coach at Howard (2009), coached the wide receivers at Illinois State (2007-08) and was the passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach at Moravian (2005-06).
Williams played wide receiver for the Terrapins from 2000-03 and ranks Top 20 all-time at Maryland in both career receptions (90) and career receiving yards (1,301). He averaged 20.07 yards per catch in 2002, the third most in Maryland history. Williams, who caught a 64-yard touchdown for the Terps in the 2002 Orange Bowl, received a Bachelor of Science degree in health and human performance from Maryland in 2003.
Bucar worked as an offensive analyst under Maryland’s new offensive coordinator Matt Canada at LSU last season. During the 2017 season, LSU quarterback Danny Etling finished with 16 touchdown passes and only two interceptions.
LSU went 9-4 during Bucar’s stint and earned a trip to the Citrus Bowl. The Tigers finished the season No. 1 nationally in fewest turnovers.
A graduate assistant at the University of Pittsburgh twice, in 2012 and from 2015 to 2016, Bucar worked with the Panthers offensive line. In 2016, Pitt ranked No. 10 nationally in points per game and No. 8 in redzone touchdowns with 45. The Panthers averaged 446.8 total yards per game (225.1 rushing, 221.7 passing).Bucar began his coaching career at Tiffin University where he served as the offensive line coach in 2013 and 2014. Bucar played offensive line at the Division III level at Washington & Jefferson, and was a two-time All-Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) first-team selection.
Williams, a 2003 graduate of Maryland, spent the past two seasons coaching wide receivers at Rutgers. In his first season with the Scarlet Knights, Williams mentored Jawuan Harris to 39 receptions for 481 yards, which led all Big Ten freshmen. Andre Patton, who went on to sign an NFL contract, led the unit with 13.9 yards per catch and five touchdowns.
A native of Philadelphia, Williams was hired as running backs coach at Purdue in 2013. He helped Markell Jones break the Boilermaker’s freshman rushing record in 2015 with 875 yards on 168 carries, finishing eighth overall in the Big Ten with 72.9 yards per game. In 2014, Akeem Hunt tallied 949 yards on the ground before going on to sign an NFL contract with the Houston Texans.
Williams joined Purdue from his running backs position at Kent State where in 2012 he coached one of the nation's top rushing tandems in Dri Archer (third round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers) and Traylon Durham. Under Williams' direction, the duo combined to rush for 2,745 yards and 30 touchdowns in 14 games. Archer was named an Associated Press, Walter Camp, ESPN.com and Sporting News All-American following the regular season.
Prior to working two seasons at Kent State, Williams was the special teams quality control assistant at Northwestern (2010), served as the wide receivers coach at Howard (2009), coached the wide receivers at Illinois State (2007-08) and was the passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach at Moravian (2005-06).
Williams played wide receiver for the Terrapins from 2000-03 and ranks Top 20 all-time at Maryland in both career receptions (90) and career receiving yards (1,301). He averaged 20.07 yards per catch in 2002, the third most in Maryland history. Williams, who caught a 64-yard touchdown for the Terps in the 2002 Orange Bowl, received a Bachelor of Science degree in health and human performance from Maryland in 2003.
Bucar worked as an offensive analyst under Maryland’s new offensive coordinator Matt Canada at LSU last season. During the 2017 season, LSU quarterback Danny Etling finished with 16 touchdown passes and only two interceptions.
LSU went 9-4 during Bucar’s stint and earned a trip to the Citrus Bowl. The Tigers finished the season No. 1 nationally in fewest turnovers.
A graduate assistant at the University of Pittsburgh twice, in 2012 and from 2015 to 2016, Bucar worked with the Panthers offensive line. In 2016, Pitt ranked No. 10 nationally in points per game and No. 8 in redzone touchdowns with 45. The Panthers averaged 446.8 total yards per game (225.1 rushing, 221.7 passing).Bucar began his coaching career at Tiffin University where he served as the offensive line coach in 2013 and 2014. Bucar played offensive line at the Division III level at Washington & Jefferson, and was a two-time All-Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) first-team selection.
