William Koll

August 12, 1923 – September 27, 2003

William H. “Bill” Koll was born at Fort Dodge, Iowa. He started his wrestling career under Coach Fred Cooper at Fort Dodge High School where he placed third in the State High School Wrestling Tournament in 1940 and was a state champion at 135 pounds in 1941.

Bill continued his education and wrestling at Iowa State Teachers College (University of Northern Iowa) where his coach was Dave McCuskey. College and wrestling activities have to be put on hold after the outbreak of World War II as Bill spent 34 months in the Army, 1943-45 with the 149th Engineers Battalion, participating in the Normandy landing and earning the Bronze Star. Koll was with that unit when they landed on Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944, during the D-Day invasion of Normandy.

He returned to Iowa State Teachers College in 1945 to continue his education and embark on an outstanding career in wrestling and coaching.

Bill Koll won the NCAA title three consecutive year, 1946, 1947 and 1948 and helped Northern Iowa to runner-up team finishes in 1946 and 1947. In 1946, at the first post-war NCAA tournament, he won the award for the most falls. Koll was the first Iowan to accomplish three consecutive Championships and most falls in an NCAA tournament.

He was also the first wrestler to be named as the NCAA Tournament Outstanding Wrestler two times in 1947 and 1948. He was undefeated in college and NCAA competition and was a member of the 1948 Olympic team where he ended up in 5th place at 147.5 pounds in the unfamiliar international style at the London Games.

Our inducted graduated from Iowa State Teachers College in 1948 and immediately set out to further his education and start his coaching career. Bill coached and taught at five schools: the University of Chicago (3 years), Cornell College in Mt. Vernon (1 year), the University of Northern Iowa (12 years), and Penn State (14 years). Bill retired from coaching in 1978.

When Koll returned to his alma mater as head coach of Northern Iowa from 1953-64, during his 11 seasons at the helm, he guided the Panthers to a 71-42-6 record (.622). His teams garnered four top 10 NCAA Division 1 Tournament finishes and two NCAA Division II top 10 finishes, including a third-place finish in 1963. Northern Iowa wrestlers earned three NCAA individual titles and 12 All-America honors under his direction.

In 1965, Koll took over the Penn State program from the legendary Charlie Speidel, who was retiring after 34 seasons, a Distinguished Member inducted in 1979 at Penn State. Koll would set a standard for producing tenacious and superbly conditioned athletes that would be a hallmark for the program followed by the three succeeding head coaches to the present day.

Koll’s teams posted unbeaten dual meet campaigns in 1967, 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1974 and compiled still standing records of a 41-match home-unbeaten streak (1969-76), a 38-match unbeaten streak (1969-73) and a 28 consecutive home victory streak (1969-74). His 127 victories rank third all-time at Penn State and his 85.2 winning percentage is the highest among any Penn State coach with more than two seasons at the helm.

Koll’s Nittany Lion teams posted six top 10 NCAA Tournament finishes, including a tie for fourth in 1971, and 12 top 20 finishes. The Nittany Lions earned 20 All-America titles under his direction and three NCAA individual championships. Koll coached two-time NCAA national champion Andy Matter (1971-72) and 1975 national champion John Fritz, who would serve as head coach for the Nittany Lions for six seasons (1993-98) following in the mold Koll laid forth.

Affectionately referred to as “SOB” by the Penn State wrestling community, Koll said it stood for “Sweet Old Bill” while his many wrestlers would point to a less jovial meaning. A photo of Koll inscribed with “SOB” still hangs in the Penn State coaches’ office suite to serve as both inspiration and motivation.

Koll, whose grandfather fought in the Civil War, was known for his fierce intensity, straightforward nature and sense of humor. He once said, “Any boy who hasn’t cussed me under his breath isn’t worth his salt as a wrestler in my book. Whether a boy wins or loses is unimportant, but I have no compassion for someone who does not want to win. He’s got to try. He’s got to do the best he can. He’s got to go way beyond his threshold of pain. I’m an absolute fanatic about this.”

Mr. Koll was inducted into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1975 along with Dave Natvig.

High School

Fort Dodge High School

CoachFred Cooper

• 1940   3rd Place State Tournament at 125 pounds
• 1941   Champion State Tournament at 135 pounds
• Ft. Dodge High School Athletic Hall of Fame

College

Iowa State Teacher's College (UNI)

CoachDave McCuskey

Record72-0

• Won NCAA Titles 3 consecutive years (first Iowan to accomplish this feat)
• First wrestler to be named NCAA “Outstanding Wrestler” two times
• Undefeated in College and NCAA Competition (70-0)
• 1946 Won the award for most falls at first post-war NCAA Tournament
• 1946 and 1947   Runner-up for team
• Member 1948 Olympic team

Coaching

• Coached and taught at five schools
  • University of Chicago, 3 years
  • Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, 1 year
  • University of Northern Iowa, 12 years
    • Took over for former coach, Dave McClusky
    • 1963 and 1964 Host and Tournament Director inaugurating NCAA College Division National Tournament
  • Penn State University, 14 years.
• Bill retired from coaching in 1978