Phillip Williamson became University of Lynchburg's director of riding in December of 2020 to lead Lynchburg in both National Collegiate Equestrian Association and Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association competition.
Williamson immediately vaulted the Hornets into the forefront of the national collegiate equestrian conversation, culminating with back-to-back National Collegiate Equestrian Association single-discipline championships in 2022 and 2023. He won jumping seat coach of the year honors from the NCEA for his efforts in both championship seasons. Lynchburg's IHSA team also enjoyed a renaissance in his second season at the helm, finishing fourth in one of the nation's most challenging regions and sending one rider -- Dakota Banks in Limit Fences -- to IHSA nationals, where Banks was runner-up.
In Williamson's first season, the Hornets' NCEA team took home a single-discipline runner-up finish in the program's first-ever trip to the NCEA National Championships, and freshman Kelley McCormick most outstanding performer on the flat in the discipline and reached the All-Championship Team.
Williamson came to Lynchburg with a wealth of experience in the equestrian world, most recently as a riding instructor and assistant IHSA team coach at nearby Sweet Briar College, where he has mentored two IHSA Zone 4 Region 4 championship teams in two-plus years. In 2019, the Sweet Briar team finished eighth at IHSA nationals.
A Colorado native and 2016 equine studies graduate of Centenary College (now University) in Hackettstown, N.J., Williamson was an accomplished rider for the Centenary IHSA program in his own right, earning reserve high-point rider honors at the 2016 IHSA Zone 3 Region 3 championships and novice individual reserve champion accolades at the 2016 ANRC championships. He also holds a master's in coaching and sport leadership from Randolph College.
Since graduating, he has taught and ridden professionally in both New Jersey and Colorado. Williamson holds a U.S. Equestrian Federation “r” judge’s card and is a United States Hunter Jumper Association Certified Trainer. He lives in Lynchburg.
Since graduating, he has taught and ridden professionally in both New Jersey and Colorado. Williamson holds a U.S. Equestrian Federation “r” judge’s card and is a United States Hunter Jumper Association Certified Trainer. He lives in Lynchburg.
