One of the most decorated wrestlers in U.S. history, Joeseph E. Williams was a three-time NCAA champion and four-time All-American for the University of Iowa under the legendary coach Dan Gable, a Distinguished Member of the Hall of Fame, and Jim Zalesky, also a Distinguished Member.

Joe had a career record of 129-9 while helping the Hawkeyes win back-to-back NCAA team titles in 1996 and 1997 and being named Outstanding Wrestler at the NCAA tournament in 1998. Williams finished fifth at the 2004 Olympics and competed in six World Championships, winning bronze medals in 2001 and 2005 while placing fourth in 1999 and fifth in 2007. He won gold medals at the Pan American Championships in 1999 and 2003 and was a four-time World Cup champion. He is a 10-time National Freestyle champion and a six-time U.S. Senior National Freestyle champion.

He was a four-time Illinois state high school champion for Mount Carmel High School, wrestling for Bill Weick, a Distinguished Member of the Hall of Fame. He had a career record of 162-1 with 95 career falls, but was never beaten on the mat. His only loss was a disqualification, resulting from an illegal slam, as a freshman. Williams was named Chicago Tribune’s Illinois High School Athlete of the Year in 1992 and 1993.

Joe placed seventh in the NCAA meet at 158 pounds in 1994. After redshirting during the 1995 season, Williams went on to claim the first of three NCAA wrestling titles with two coming in the 158-pound division. During his senior year, Williams dominated the field at the 1998 NCAA Championships, as he capped a perfect 34–0 season at 167 pounds and picked up his third straight title. He was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament and became Iowa's fourteenth four-time NCAA All-American. At the end of 1998 season, Williams graduated with a bachelor's degree in sociology and communication studies from the University of Iowa.

For his collegiate, freestyle and international mat dominance at the ultra-competitive middle weights, Joe Williams is recognized as a Distinguish Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.