Huntsville woman to direct NFL mental health programs

June 17--HUNTSVILLE -- When Candice Williams was a young girl she had a vision for her life. As she grew older and life began to attempt to box in her visions -- her dreams never left her.

In July her dreams will become flesh: Williams will experience her own NFL draft. She's going to the league in a new positions as Program Manager of Mental Health Services for the National Football League.

The Trust is a program sponsored by the NFL Player's Association. It's designed to help former NFL players transition to life after their football careers are over.

"I'm driven and since 2012 I've been trying to get myself involved with professional sports," Williams said. "Mostly pro football."

Williams is a life long football fan, a 2003 Huntsville High School graduate, earned a degree in psychology from Texas A&M University in 2007. After securing a support staff position with the Houston Texans she began to network.

Her mother Anita Williams said, "This has been her dream. She has always stayed focused, remained passionate, she is a great role model."

In spite of the Texans' lofty sounding position the job was only paying minimum wage.

"I just got on Facebook and found an opening in the office of NFL Player Engagement as an intern and they said, 'Send us a resume,'" Candice Williams said. "About three months later I got a call from that office requesting an interview. In the interview Robert Morrissey told me I had more experience than anyone working in this office combined."

Williams said she did not get the internship because she was "over qualified" for the 40-hour-per-week minimum wage position.

Undaunted she secured an opportunity to attend this year's NFL combine in Indianapolis for the Sports Management Career Conference.

"All of the scouts and agents told me I had to be willing to work for virtually for free," she said.

While at the combine, she said "the scouts are there all the coaches are there and of course all the players seeking to enter the league are there. I got to ask a lot of questions. Being in session all day I got to meet and listen Kelly Masters one of the top paid female agents."

After the combine Williams began pounding the pavement chasing her dream. That's when all her preparation met opportunity. A new full-time position became available as part of the new NFL's collective bargaining agreement with the NFL Players Association.

Within a matter of two weeks, she said "I got an interview, got on a flight to Washington D.C. and will soon be starting a new career."

Since completing her education, Williams has had other full-time employment but quit them in order to pursue her goal. While at lesser paying positions, she was able to put herself in a better situation.

"All the while my parents just stood by me while I was experiencing all those changes all the while we just keep trusting and believing that all this was somehow part of God's plan," Williams said. "I just kept standing on God's word in Jeremiah 29:11 that says 'For I know the thoughts that I have for you saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not evil, to give you an expected end."

Williams said she has been blessed.

"I've been chosen to be this person to be an advocate for these men at a very vulnerable position in their lives," she said. "I see myself as this vessel. And I'm excited about that."

The new position is one that Williams will have to pioneer. She will have to develop it according to the needs of the men in transition. Williams understands that there is something within her that will be able to help in times of need.

However with the support of the league, executive directors and her faith, Williams seems poised and confident. A trait she says she gets from her father, Charlie Williams.

"He's always been a huge part of my life he's my role model my rock and gives me confidence," she said. "Black and female -- he just tells me to not worry about that -- just be good."

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