In 2019 Willson became just the fourth basketball coach at MUS in the modern era. He has compiled an overall record of 95-61 in his first six seasons, reaching the state quarterfinals four times with three region runner-up finishes. His 2023-24 squad finished with a record of 22-6, the program’s first 20-win season in seven years. He was previously the head coach at Division III Emory & Henry College (2013-19). His 2016-17 team put together the program’s first 20-win season in 24 years, and he led the Wasps to their first-ever ODAC championship in 2017-18 to punch a ticket into the NCAA Tournament, the program’s first Tournament appearance since 1994. He served as a Division I assistant at William & Mary, Elon, and Furman. He was a standout basketball player at MUS for Coach Jerry Peters, claiming All-State honors and being named a Mr. Basketball finalist in 1999. He went on to have an equally impressive career at Hampden-Sydney College, playing on teams that reached the NCAA Division III Final Four (2003) and won the ODAC championship (2004).