Bob Marlin Reacts To Herman Williams’ Tragic Death [VIDEO]

Everyone deals with loss differently. The entire Ragin’ Cajuns family lost basketball recruit Herman Williams before he even played a game, and his sudden death shocked the entire community.

Head Coach Bob Marlin talked to Williams in the days before he collapsed on the court, and Marlin had to step in front of a microphone to try to find the words to explain such an unexpected tragedy.

In an emotional press conference, Marlin talked about the type of player and person Williams was, and how the team will try to recover. Send positive thoughts and prayers to Williams’ family, and channel strength to everyone missing such a talented, promising young man.

Read Coach Marlin’s opening statement below, and watch the entire press conference below to see his full reaction to the news.

"Last night about seven o'clock, our program was dealt a severe blow when we heard about the passing of one of our incoming freshmen, Herman Williams, who had collapsed and died suddenly while playing basketball yesterday afternoon in his hometown of Marianna, Florida. He was a very bright young man with a very bright future. He had a bounce in his step, he had a smile that was contagious and he loved the Ragin' Cajuns, and was going to be a perfect compliment to the team both as a person as well as a basketball player.

 

"We are very saddened by this unexpected loss and it has hit our program hard. Herman celebrated a 19th birthday on Sunday and was scheduled to be here (in Lafayette) on July 5 for his second summer session. (Former assistant) Coach (Gus) Hauser and I talked with him yesterday afternoon, and then we got this awful news last night. It's a very difficult time for our program and I would appreciate all of our fans keeping Herman, his family and our Ragin' Cajuns basketball family in your thoughts and prayers in the coming weeks."