Williams Family Barn naming leaves Auburn equestrian coach 'overwhelmed'

Williams Family Barn naming leaves Auburn equestrian coach 'overwhelmed'

Williams Family Barn naming leaves Auburn equestrian coach 'overwhelmed'Williams Family Barn naming leaves Auburn equestrian coach 'overwhelmed'

Williams Family Barn

AUBURN, Ala. – A meticulous planner, Greg Williams approved every detail of Auburn equestrian's facility dedication program.

One component, however – the naming of the barn – did not go the way Williams expected.

"When they first started talking about foregoing the name of it, I thought, 'I already have this name in my head, what are they going to call it?'" Williams said, assuming the barn would be named for lead Tigers Unlimited donors Suzanne Mott Dansby and Walt and Ginger Woltosz. "I was a little bit irritated they were changing the name.

"Then when they named it after our family, it was just an unbelievably gracious deal that Suzanne and the Woltoszs did. It just was amazing."

Suddenly, the coach who always has the right word for each equestrian audience and situation was speechless."It was very surreal," Williams said. "I was stumbling around with words. I didn't know what to say. I really was overwhelmed. Completely taken by surprise."

'Unbelievably gracious': Greg Williams reacts to Auburn equestrian's barn bearing his family's name

Wiping a tear as he stood at the podium in front of more than a hundred supporters on Sept. 27, Williams said, "I can't believe y'all did that."

"Two large donors really teamed up to get this rolling – this barn is theirs. It's supposed to have their name on it. They're both great friends."

The Williams Family Barn also honors Greg's wife, Sandi, daughters Toni and Erica, and his parents, Carolyn and Mike, for their longstanding investment in Auburn's equestrian program.

"It means the most that they also recognized my family in it," he said. "They've been a big part of this with me. Most noticeably, my wife and my mom, they're both passionate horsewomen and they have been traveling and working with this team since its inception in '96.

"For them to not just put my name on it but recognize that it's been a family venture means the world to me."

The new facility further strengthens a program that's won six national championships, including three of the past four and two in a row. It allows student-athletes to better care for Auburn's equine athletes.

"It's so much better for our horses," Williams said. "If you're a horse person, they come first. To be able to do a better job taking care of them means everything.

"This barn also has a lot of appeal. It's just a lot of fun to be in. It's very nice looking. It's up-to-date and has so much pop. You feel good walking in it, the efficiencies of it are truly incredible. It makes our practices go a lot smoother, faster, and a lot better for our girls as well."

More than 30 families and Tigers Unlimited members donated to fund the facility, including the families of former team members Caitlin Creel, Alex Ladove, Mary-Elyse Winchester, Betsy Brown and Blair McFarlin.

Several other spaces within the new facility were officially named and recognized during the ceremony, including the Creel Family Equestrian Center, the Ladove Scholarship Lounge, the Winchester Family Western Tack Room and the Rebecca Thorne Carroll Arena, which honors David and Becky Carroll, a former Auburn swimmer.

"It's incredible to see how many people care about what these girls are accomplishing," Williams said.

Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer