Instrumental in getting Otterbein its first Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Tournament championship and appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Ed Williams, a 6-7, center from Reynoldsburg, Ohio helped make Otterbein history on his way to third team All-America honors from the National Association of Basketball Coaches during the 1977-78 season.

Williams averaged a double-double to help lead Otterbein to a four-game sweep of the 1978 OAC Tournament, and give future Otterbein Hall of Famer Dick Reynolds, then in his sixth season as head coach, his first appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Williams averaged 15 points and 11.3 rebounds over the four games which culminated in a 72-71 win over Wooster in the championship game.

In the NCAA Tournament, the Cardinals lost to Albion, 72-67, in the first round of the Great Lakes Regional, but came back to win the consolation game, 99-82, over Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. Williams was named MVP of the regional, collecting 32 points and 10 rebounds in the consolation game. He scored 48 points and pulled down 35 rebounds over the two games.

Williams averaged a double-double his senior season, 18.2 points and 10.1 rebounds a game. He received the Robert “Deke” Edler Memorial Award from Otterbein, presented to the student-athlete who exhibits exemplary character, athletic ability, and contribution to the team and program.

Over the course of his career at Otterbein, Williams scored 1203 points and collected 840 rebounds.