New CSU women's basketball coach Ryun Williams learns his lessons well ( Denver Post )

FORT COLLINS???Ryun Williams grew up idolizing Bob Knight as a coach. Williams is a native of the Hoosier State, after all, where all roads inevitably lead to a driveway with a hoop nailed to the garage.

But it was as a volleyball coach at Sheridan College in Wyoming where Williams first found out that the Knight school of coaching probably wasn't going to work too well with young women.

"I coached them aggressively, Knight style, so to speak, and that wasn't workin'," he said. "It was more about, 'We're on the same team here.' They need to know that you really have a vested interest in them as people. I learned how to communicate better with them."

If women sometimes complain about a man's inability to communicate, it has escaped Williams. The new coach of the Colorado State women's basketball team comes to Fort Collins with a glowing testimony from those he's taught the games of basketball and life.

"He builds relationships with you right away, and it's built on trust and respect," said Annie Roche, who starred under Williams at his previous employer, South Dakota. "He can coach hard and get after you, but you know it's because he cares about you and wants to get the best out of you."

Williams, 43, was hired by CSU last month after the resignation of Kristen Holt following four years at the helm and a 50-71 record. He said what every new coach does at his introductory news conference, being excited about the opportunity, wanting to establish a winning tradition, but those who have worked with him say the native of Kokomo, Ind., has a fierce drive to succeed. His father, Nello, was a successful high school coach in Bunker Hill, Ind.

"Nobody's going to outwork him," South Dakota athletic director David Sayler said. "He's a natural coach. We're happy for Ryun and his family. We think we'll continue to succeed with our program, but I'm sure he'll help grow things in the right direction at CSU."

How will Williams build a winner again at CSU?

"We're gonna come in here and do the process. We're gonna coach 'em hard. We're gonna respect 'em, hold 'em accountable and just come to work every single day. Be consistent in our approach, and then the culture changes. You can't get ahead of yourself," Williams said. "I've been lucky to have been around some very good coaches, and I like to think I've been very observant along the way, and learned what's made them successful. And, why reinvent the wheel? Let's do what works."

What has worked in the past for Williams is a hard-nosed, defensive style, leading to transition the other way.

Williams guided South Dakota to a 76-47 record the past four years. He has a career 311-190 record in 17 years as a head coach, including stops at Wayne (Neb.) State (1998-2008) and Sheridan College (1995-98).

"He's a winner," CSU athletic director Jack Graham said. "He's dedicated, hardworking."

Williams has a wife and two young daughters who have stayed behind in South Dakota until a house is found in Colorado. Meanwhile, he is working to get to know his Rams.

"I think Sam Martin had a great sophomore season and she can be a really good player for us. Hayley Thompson is a talented young lady and real good leader, and we've got a real good point guard in LaDeyah Forte," he said. "Basketball is just basketball and teaching it is just teaching it, but I think sometimes how you communicate with a female athlete is done a little differently. You can still use an aggressive tone and coach them hard, but you've got to treat them like young ladies off the floor. On the floor, they're basketball players and you coach the heck out of them, because that's what they want."

Said Roche: "I developed a lot under four years with him. He's going to do great things out there in Colorado."

Adrian Dater: adater@denverpost.com or twitter.com/adater

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Meet CSU Women's basketball coach

A look at the career of new Colorado State women's basketball coach Ryun Williams, 43:

COACHING HIGHLIGHTS:

Led South Dakota to second consecutive postseason appearance in 2011-12, when Coyotes beat Drake in first round of WNIT. The team's 23-8 mark was its best since moving to Division I.

Led South Dakota to first postseason appearance as a Division I program in 2010-11 when the Coyotes earned a berth in Women's Basketball Invitational; also led Coyotes to first Division I postseason victory with 62-47 victory over Idaho.

NCAA Division II Tournament Appearances in 2005-06 and 2007-08

North Sub-Region championship and Region IX championship appearance

Coached one WBCA All-America honorable mention.

COACHING HISTORY

1993-95 Sheridan Coll. (volleyball)

1993-95 Sheridan College (men's basketball assistant coach)

1995-98 Sheridan College (women's basketball head coach)

1998-2008 Wayne State College (head coach)

2008-12 South Dakota (head coach)

2012-present Colorado State

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