Pashen Lewis

Pashen Williams enters her second season with Purdue track & field as an assistant coach ahead of the 2026-27 season. 

2025-26
In her first season, Lewis assisted Samuel Vessat to a record-setting campaign that featured fourth and sixth place finishes in the 400m at the NCAA Outdoor and NCAA Indoor Championships, respectively. She also helped Purdue’s men’s 4x400m to a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Outdoor Championships and a pair of Big Ten silver medals.

She assisted Alexia Smith to a 12th place finish in the 400m at the NCAA Outdoor Championships and a Big Ten silver medal in her record-breaking season. The women’s 4x400m also earned a Big Ten silver medal outdoors.

She played a role in guiding the men’s program to 11 points and a tie for 23rd at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

Before Purdue
Williams was a successful collegiate sprinter at Jacksonville from 2017-22. She was an eight-time ASUN Champion highlighted by five victories in the 4x400m. She was part of two 4x400m relay teams that qualified for the NCAA East First Round.

She was part of the school record 4x400m relay team both indoors (3:35.79) and outdoors (3:34.18). Her 53.96 in the 400m that won the ASUN outdoor title in 2018 is the No. 3 time in Jacksonville history.

After her collegiate career, Williams worked with current Purdue staff members Miller, Jamaal Barnes and Camille Ross assisting with the track & field team at Louisville from 2022-23 where she was a sports science intern.

Other post-college work for Williams included working as a research assistant at Jacksonville, physical education teacher at Tallahassee School of Math and Science and STEM teacher at Florida State University Schools.