Bill Hess
Hess, c. 1958
Biographical details
Born(1923-02-05)February 5, 1923
DiedJune 10, 1978(1978-06-10) (aged 55)
Athens, Ohio, U.S.
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1951–1957Ohio State (assistant)
1958–1977Ohio
Head coaching record
Overall108–91–4
Bowls0–2
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1 NCAA College Division National (1960)
4 MAC (1960, 1963, 1967–1968)
Awards
MAC Coach of the Year (1968)

William R. Hess (February 5, 1923 – June 10, 1978) was an American college football coach. He served as the head football coach at Ohio University from 1958 to 1977. In his tenure as head coach for the Ohio Bobcats football team, Hess compiled a 108–91–4 record. He ranked second on Ohio's all-time victories list behind Hall of Famer Don Peden at the time of his retirement,[1] though he has since been passed by Frank Solich. Hess's teams won four Mid-American Conference (MAC) championships (1960, 1963, 1967, and 1968) and won a National Small College Championship in 1960 after having an undefeated season. Hess also led the Bobcats to two bowl games, losing 15–14 to West Texas State in the 1962 Sun Bowl and losing 49–42 to Richmond in the 1968 Tangerine Bowl. His 1968 team is the only team in school history to finish ranked in the major polls.[2] Hess was a native of Columbus, Ohio. He coached high school football in Portsmouth and Grandview Heights, Ohio before joining Woody Hayes's staff at Ohio State University in 1951.[3]

Head coaching record

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs Coaches# AP°
Ohio Bobcats (Mid-American Conference) (1958–1977)
1958 Ohio 5–4 2–4 T–4th
1959 Ohio 7–2 4–2 2nd
1960 Ohio 10–0 6–0 1st
1961 Ohio 5–3–1 3–2–1 4th
1962 Ohio 8–3 5–1 2nd L Sun
1963 Ohio 6–4 5–1 1st
1964 Ohio 5–4–1 3–2–1 4th
1965 Ohio 0–10 0–6 7th
1966 Ohio 5–5 3–3 4th
1967 Ohio 6–4 5–1 T–1st
1968 Ohio 10–1 6–0 1st L Tangerine 18 20
1969 Ohio 5–4–1 2–3 T–3rd
1970 Ohio 4–5 3–2 T–2nd
1971 Ohio 5–5 2–3 T–3rd
1972 Ohio 3–8 1–4 6th
1973 Ohio 5–5 2–3 T–3rd
1974 Ohio 6–5 3–2 T–2nd
1975 Ohio 5–5–1 2–4 T–5th
1976 Ohio 7–4 6–2 T–2nd
1977 Ohio 1–10 0–8 10th
Ohio: 108–91–4 63–53–2
Total: 108–91–4
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References

  1. ^ DeLassus, David. "Bill Hess Records by Year". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on August 6, 2016. Retrieved November 12, 2010.
  2. ^ DeLassus, David. "Ohio in the Polls". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on November 10, 2016. Retrieved February 13, 2012.
  3. ^ "OU Names Bill Hess New Football Coach". The Times Recorder. Zanesville, Ohio. Associated Press. January 10, 1958. p. 25-B. Retrieved September 30, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
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