Hall of Fame
Position: Coach
Years: Case Western Reserve [OH] (1935-40), Vanderbilt (1949-52), Wittenberg [OH] (1955-68)
Place of Birth: Massillon OH
Date of Birth: Jun 21, 1905
Place of Death: Springfield, OH
Date of Death: Jun 12, 1987
Bill Edwards was a high school dropout, but he came back to reach the top in his profession. Economics forced him out of school; he quit at 14 to work in the mines. He returned at 17 and became a star football player for Massillon, Ohio; High School. He enrolled at Ohio State, captained the freshman football team and roomed with Paul Brown, another future legend. Meanwhile six Massillon High players had gone to Wittenberg College to play for Ernie Godfrey, and Edwards transferred. In 1929 Grantland Rice wrote, "Edwards is the best center in the nation, but I can't name him All-America because of his team's schedule." Walter Eckersall had no such reservation; he named him All-America. His college coaching record covered stints at Western Reserve, 1936-1940, with a 49-6-2 record; Vanderbilt, 1949-1952, with a 21-19-2 record; and Wittenberg, 1955-1968, with a 98-20-4 record. His totals for 23 seasons were 168-45-8. He had five unbeaten seasons. His Wittenberg teams won five Ohio Conference titles and two national titles, and he was twice Coach of the Year in his division. Sports Illustrated called him "a combination of Santa Claus and Genghis Khan." He was 81 when he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Edwards also coached a pro team, the Detroit Lions, 1941-1942.
