A 37-year-old former athlete and coach hoping to become a Marion County, FL, sheriff's deputy fell ill after an agility test Tuesday and died Wednesday night at an Ocala hospital.
Former Pro Athlete Dies After Agility Test at Florida Sheriff's Office
A 37-year-old former athlete and coach hoping to become a Marion County, FL, sheriff's deputy fell ill after an agility test Tuesday and died Wednesday night at an Ocala hospital.
December 20, 2015
Dondre Williams, a former professional basketball player in Europe, died last week after taking the agility test to become a Marion County, FL, Sheriff's deputy. (Photo: Facebook)
Sheriff's Office spokesman Lt. Ryan Robbins told the Ocala Star Banner Thursday that Dondre Williams, of Green Cove Springs, died at Munroe Regional Medical Center. Authorities did not release a cause of death.
On Tuesday, Williams had just passed the agency's physical agility test — one of the requirements an applicant must successfully complete before becoming a deputy — when he asked for help. Officials said he was rushed to the hospital.
The course Williams completed entails running a mile in 10 minutes; performing 25 push-ups in a minute and 25 sit-ups in a minute; and running 300 meters in 1 minute and 10 seconds. There are breaks between each station. A candidate should complete the tasks in about 30 minutes, according to sheriff's officials.
According to his Marion County Sheriff's Office job application, Williams, who was married, was a member of multiple juvenile justice programs and had led community outreach efforts.
Williams graduated from high school in Jacksonville and attended West Virginia State University, where he graduated in 2004 with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. He played basketball there, and, after graduation, played professionally in Europe.
From 2008-10, Williams was a strength coach at the University of Florida, according to his paperwork.
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