A football coach at Southeast High that clearly made it to the top was William “Bill” Myles. Coach Myles coached for several years and turned in outstanding won loss records and developed a number of outstanding football players throughout those years. Coach Myles is one of Kansas City’s best and relatively unknown coaching legends. But that legend continues to many who knew and were coached by him. I was lucky to have been known him both as a neighbor, and to have been coached by Coach Myles from 1970 to 1972 at Southeast HS. I was named to the Honorable Mention City team that year under his great coaching skills along with Coach Jim Julian. I later played college football for two years at the College of Emporia later Emporia State University. Coach Myles was a remarkable motivator, psychologist, educator and football strategist. For years after my brief football career I would follow Coach Myles outstanding career. Coach Myles went to the University of Nebraska in 1972 the same year of my graduation. Myles had been awarded a contract by Coach Tom Osborn the great coach at Nebraska. Later he brought Earl Everett the first African American to play quarterback at Nebraska arriving much earlier than either Tommy Frazier, or Turner Gill. Remarkably Myles opened up the doors for African American quarterbacks by introducing Everett to Nebraska football. In that very year Nebraska won a national Championship in 1972 over Alabama. During his tenure there Myles as an assistant coach of the offensive linemen then later a linebacker coach from 1975 until he landed an even bigger job at Ohio State University. Upon being hired by the legendary coach Woody Hayes as an assistant who had pursued Myles coached from 1977 to 1983. He became associate athletic director in 1983 and retired from this prestigious position in 2007. During Myles tenure at Ohio State several Big Ten Championships were realized. As an Associate Athletic director Ohio State won the 2002 National Championship. During Myles career at Nebraska he saw the likes of All Americans Rich Glover, a defensive lineman and Johnny Rogers a wingback in 1972. In the years at Ohio State he worked with all Americans Tom Cousineau, Ray Griffin, Art Schilechter, Keith Byers and Thomas Pepper Johnson. About three years ago I had a big surprise when I saw Coach Myles here in Kansas City at Paseo Baptist Church where I attend half of the Sundays and the other time at St. Augustine’s. Myles was introduced to the Congregation, but I knew that very very few knew him the way I did. I visited briefly with him introducing my self and later realizing that some 29 years had now passed. He did not look like the Coach I knew in the 1970’s and I know he looked at me and thought I was not the same student he had coached. It was so nice seeing him again. My hat goes off to him for being not only a coach but a great motivator who really cared about people and education. Standing, Left to Right Bill Myles (tackles and tight ends). Myles comes from a time when college coaching positions weren’t as specialized as they are now. He and Glen Mason were the only holdovers from Woody Hayes’ 1978 staff. Myles himself came to Ohio State from Nebraska after the 1977 season and was initially given the task of coaching offensive lines and coordinating all recruiting. When Bruce came in, his roles remained the same. Eventually, Myles retired to the front office at Ohio State, becoming an associate athletic director. Chief among his accomplishments in this role is the implementation of Title IX in the athletic program at Ohio State. He currently has an eponymous athletic scholarship endowed in his honor at The Ohio State University. - See more at: ourhonordefend/2008/12/where-are-they-now-1981-coaching-staff-edition.php#sthash.L6otk4t7.dpuf In his words https://kb.osu.edu/dspace/bitstream/handle/1811/29260/Myles%20Transcript.pdf?sequence=1
Posted on: Sat, 21 Sep 2013 23:11:48 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015