If a journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single step, Shaun Williams expended copious amounts of shoe leather before reaching his destination as Central Valley's new wrestling coach.

Williams' odyssey began some 10,000 miles away when he left his native South Africa and arrived at North Idaho College in Coeur d' Alene to further his mat career. A circuitous route that followed eventually brought him back to CV, where he had assisted John Owen for two years a decade ago.

When Owen retired, said Williams, the opportunity to return was too good to pass up. 

"Actually, I met John at North Idaho the first year I wrestled there," he said. "John has always been a mentor to me."

Born in Pretoria 39 years ago, Williams' wrestling resume is as extensive as the mileage. He finished second and first nationally in the late 1990s while at NIC and was a two-time NCAA qualifier for the University of Oregon at 125 pounds.

He returned to South Africa, where he had been a national team member prior to college, medaled three times at the All-Africa Games, won bronze in the 2002 Commonwealth games and was South Africa's lone competitor at the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

"I figured it was better to me (to return to South Africa) to pursue my Olympic dream," Williams said. 

After returning to the United States, he attended college initially to pursue an urban planner degree before switching to education.

Williams coached in Arlington, Moses Lake and Hermiston, Ore., where his teams won the last three team state championships.

"Spokane and Coeur d'Alene were kind of my home away from home," said Williams of his decision to abandon the powerful program and take the CV post. "I got married here, had a son and that was part of that." 

How Williams found his way to the U.S. and became a citizen last December is a story in itself.

East Valley coach Craig Hanson had organized a wrestling cultural exchange to South Africa and stayed with a family that wanted to send their son to America and wrestle. Hanson approached Owen about the possibility.

"The first South African guy I brought in was named Trevor Prangley (who went to become a mixed martial arts competitor)," Owen explained. "He started a migration of South African wrestlers to NIC."

"That's basically where I got wind of it," Williams said.

Owen retired the year before he got there and said he rues the decision.

"I would have loved to have coached him," Owen said. "I coached national champions at every weight class except (Williams') at 125."

The two kept in touch when, during his redshirt year, he was asked by John to become his son Tommy's workout partner at University High.

"John has always been a mentor to me," Williams said. "He was always there when I needed advice, even in Hermiston."

What will he bring to the CV table? Owen said it's his knowledge of the sport. 

"He's aware of what's going on in a match," Owen said. "He knows what his kids can do and what an opponent does. The guy who is successful is the coach who puts the time in, and Shaun will put the time in."

Williams said he views the job at Central Valley the same as he did in Hermiston, taking over already established programs.

"Curt Berger did a great job of putting that program in place, and for me it was just to come in and maintain," he said. "I implemented my own stuff, too, and think I left it in a pretty decent place. But I couldn't have done it without everything that came before."

He will emphasize basics and not try to get too fancy. He wants to build a team in which numbers, rather than a few championship individuals, is the means to ultimate tournament success. CV's coaching support staff remains virtually intact, including Del Stratton, a CV grad and good friend.

"I'm hoping I can talk J.O. into stopping by and giving his advice," Williams said. 

Owen indicated he will.

CV's first competition with the new coach is the Valley Jamboree, Dec. 3.

"Once we get started, we'll do the best we can," Williams said, "get all the mileage out of the kids and see what happens."

It's the next phase of a journey that began with a single step and traveled thousands of miles.