Bill Bleil

{{Short description|American football player and coach (born 1959)}}

{{Infobox college coach

| name = Bill Bleil

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1959|2|23}}

| birth_place = Remsen, Iowa, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| current_title = Offensive line coach

| current_team = Pittsburg State

| current_conference = MIAA

| current_record =

| alma_mater = New Mexico Highlands University

| player_years1 = 1977–1980

| player_team1 = Northwestern (IA)

| player_positions = Linebacker

| coach_years1 = 1981–1982

| coach_team1 = New Mexico Highlands (GA)

| coach_years2 = 1983

| coach_team2 = New Mexico Highlands (DC)

| coach_years3 = 1984

| coach_team3 = Dana (DC)

| coach_years4 = 1985–1987

| coach_team4 = Eastern New Mexico (OL)

| coach_years5 = 1988–1989

| coach_team5 = Eastern New Mexico (OC)

| coach_years6 = 1990–1991

| coach_team6 = Northwestern (IA) (OL)

| coach_years7 = 1992

| coach_team7 = Pacific (CA) (OL)

| coach_years8 = 1993–1995

| coach_team8 = Pacific (CA) (OC)

| coach_years9 = 1996

| coach_team9 = Western Carolina (OC/OL)

| coach_years10 = 1997–2001

| coach_team10 = Western Carolina

| coach_years11 = 2002

| coach_team11 = South Dakota (OC)

| coach_years12 = 2003

| coach_team12 = Northern Illinois (TE)

| coach_years13 = 2004

| coach_team13 = Pittsburgh (TE/OT)

| coach_years14 = 2005–2006

| coach_team14 = Akron (RB)

| coach_years15 = 2007–2008

| coach_team15 = Akron (TE/OT)

| coach_years16 = 2009–2012

| coach_team16 = Iowa State (AHC/OL)

| coach_years17 = 2013

| coach_team17 = Iowa State (AHC/TE)

| coach_years18 = 2014–2015

| coach_team18 = Rhode Island (OC/OL)

| coach_years19 = 2016–2017

| coach_team19 = Missouri Southern (AHC/OL)

| coach_years20 = 2018

| coach_team20 = Lamar (OL)

| coach_years21 = 2019

| coach_team21 = Lamar (co-OC/OL)

| coach_years22 = 2020–2021

| coach_team22 = Mary Hardin–Baylor (OL)

| coach_years23 = 2022–2023

| coach_team23 = Stephen F. Austin (OL)

| coach_years24 = 2024–present

| coach_team24 = Pittsburg State (OL)

| overall_record = 23–32

| bowl_record =

| tournament_record =

| championships =

| awards = SoCon Coach of the Year (2001)

| coaching_records =

}}

Bill Bleil (born February 23, 1959) is an American college football coach and former player. He is the offensive line coach for the Pittsburg State University, a position he has held since 2024. He played college football at Northwestern (IA) and has also coached the New Mexico Highlands, Dana, Eastern New Mexico, Northwestern (IA), Pacific (CA), Western Carolina, South Dakota, Northern Illinois, Pittsburgh, Akron, Iowa State, Rhode Island, Missouri Southern, Lamar, Mary Hardin–Baylor, and Stephen F. Austin.

Early life and education

Bleil was born on February 23, 1959, in Remsen, Iowa, and grew up there on his father's farm.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93987054/asheville-citizen-times/|newspaper=Asheville Citizen-Times|via=Newspapers.com|date=January 4, 1997|title=Bleil Gets His Job|author=Jarrett, Keith|page=39, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93987075/asheville-citizen-times/ 42]}} {{Open Access}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93989517/asheville-citizen-times/|newspaper=Asheville Citizen-Times|via=Newspapers.com|date=January 21, 1997|title=New coach eager for the harvest|author=Browning, Wilt|page=31}} {{Open Access}} He attended Remsen-Union High School, where he was an all-star at the tailback and defensive back positions. He played college football at Northwestern College from 1977 to 1980, earning two NAIA all-district honors while playing linebacker. He graduated in 1981 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in physical education.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93990169/the-daily-chronicle/|newspaper=Daily Chronicle|via=Newspapers.com|date=March 8, 2003|title=Novak fills NIU football staff gaps hiring Bleil, Doornbos, Pittman|page=14, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93990202/the-daily-chronicle/ 16]}} {{Open Access}} He earned a master's degree from New Mexico Highlands University in 1982.

Coaching career

From 1981 to 1982, Bleil served as a graduate assistant and part-time volunteer at New Mexico Highlands University. He was named a full-time assistant in 1983, serving as defensive coordinator.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93987578/carlsbad-current-argus/|newspaper=Carlsbad Current-Argus|via=Newspapers.com|date=February 4, 1983|page=8|title=Bleil Joins NMHU Staff}} {{Open Access}} For a single season in 1984, Bleil was the defensive coordinator of the Dana Vikings in Iowa.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93987742/albuquerque-journal/|newspaper=Albuquerque Journal|via=Newspapers.com|date=January 20, 1985|title=Untitled|page=76}} {{Open Access}}

Bleil was named offensive line coach at Eastern New Mexico University in 1985, serving three seasons in that position before being promoted to offensive coordinator in 1988.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93987879/albuquerque-journal/|newspaper=Albuquerque Journal|via=Newspapers.com|date=December 25, 1988|page=44|title=New Mexico Recruits Gain More Notice}} {{Open Access}} He left the school following the 1989 season. Eastern New Mexico ranked top 25 in the NCAA Division II in four of his five seasons with the school.

In 1990, Bleil was named offensive line coach at his alma mater of Northwestern College, where he served two seasons.

Bleil was named offensive line coach of Division I Pacific University in 1992, serving in that position for one year before being promoted to offensive coordinator in 1993.{{Cite web|url=https://cyclones.com/staff-directory/bill-bleil/279|website=Iowa State Cyclones|title=Bill Bleil - Assistant Head Coach/Tight Ends - Staff Directory - Iowa State University Athletics}}

In 1996, after Pacific discontinued their football program, Bleil was named offensive coordinator as well as offensive line coach at Western Carolina University.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93988287/asheville-citizen-times/|newspaper=Asheville Citizen-Times|via=Newspapers.com|date=December 16, 1996|title=Wallace to visit Western|author=Jarrett, Keith|page=22}} {{Open Access}} He was promoted to head coach following the firing of Steve Hodgin, who had hired Bleil one year earlier. In his head coaching debut, Western Carolina lost to Liberty in the season opener.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93988492/asheville-citizen-times/|newspaper=Asheville Citizen-Times|via=Newspapers.com|author=Browning, Wilt|title=After review, Bleil's debut no nightmare|date=September 16, 1997|page=25}} {{Open Access}} After a 3–8 record that year, Bleil rebounded in 1998 with a 6–5 mark, the first winning season for the school since 1994.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93989614/asheville-citizen-times/|newspaper=Asheville Citizen-Times|via=Newspapers.com|date=July 29, 1999|page=25|author=Coughlin, Sean|title=Western leads with defense}} {{Open Access}}

Despite high expectations, Bleil's 1999 Western Carolina team finished with just three wins after being heavily injured.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93989662/asheville-citizen-times/|newspaper=Asheville Citizen-Times|via=Newspapers.com|author=Coughlin, Sean|title=WCU hopes to claw back into the mix|date=July 26, 2000|page=17, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93989675/asheville-citizen-times/ 19]}} {{Open Access}} The school compiled a 4–7 record in 2000.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93989708/asheville-citizen-times/|newspaper=Asheville Citizen-Times|via=Newspapers.com|date=November 21, 2000|title=Catamounts look to next season|author=Norris Goode, Tyler|page=19}} {{Open Access}} He led them to a 7–4 record in 2001, being named conference coach of the year, but was fired by the school, leading to the outrage of many of the team's fans.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93989800/asheville-citizen-times/|newspaper=Asheville Citizen-Times|via=Newspapers.com|date=December 20, 2001|title=WCU takes big hits for axing Bleil|page=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93989842/asheville-citizen-times/ 8]|author=Ellison, Quintin}} {{Open Access}}

After being fired by Western Carolina, Bleil accepted a position with the South Dakota Coyotes as offensive coordinator.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93989941/asheville-citizen-times/|newspaper=Asheville Citizen-Times|via=Newspapers.com|page=42|title=Bleil accepts position at South Dakota|date=March 30, 2002}} {{Open Access}} He was named tight ends coach at Northern Illinois University in 2003. He left them after one season and was subsequently hired by the University of Pittsburgh to coach the tight ends and offensive line.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93990338/the-daily-chronicle/|newspaper=Daily Chronicle|via=Newspapers.com|date=February 20, 2004|page=10|title=NIU's Bill Bleil joins Pitt's football staff}} {{Open Access}}

In 2005, Bleil was hired by Akron University as running backs coach. In his first year with the school, he helped running back Brett Biggs earn second-team all-conference honors with over 1,200 rushing yards. His position was changed in 2007 to offensive tackles coach and tight ends coach.

Bleil was named assistant head coach and offensive line coach at Iowa State University at the end of 2008.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93990798/sioux-city-journal/|newspaper=Sioux City Journal|via=Newspapers.com|date=December 24, 2008|title=ISU's Rhoades hires Remsen native Bleil|page=11}} {{Open Access}} After four seasons in that position, he gave up his offensive line duties for the tight ends while retaining his role as assistant head coach. While coaching the offensive line, five of his players made it into the National Football League (NFL).

Bleil left for Rhode Island in 2014 to be offensive coordinator and offensive line coach.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93991170/the-des-moines-register/|newspaper=The Des Moines Register|via=Newspapers.com|date=January 7, 2014|page=B7|title=ISU: Bleil departs; running backs coach named|author=Birch, Tommy}} {{Open Access}} He held that role for two seasons before leaving for Missouri Southern in 2016. He spent two years with Missouri Southern before accepting a position at Lamar to coach the offensive line in 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://lamarcardinals.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/bill-bleil/352|website=Lamar Cardinals|title=Bill Bleil - Assistant Coach - Football Coaches - Lamar University Athletics}} He was promoted to co-offensive coordinator in 2019 while retaining his role of offensive line coach.

From 2020 to 2021, Bleil was an assistant coach at the University of Mary Hardin–Baylor.{{Cite web|url=https://cruathletics.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/bill-bleil/645|website=Mary Hardin–Baylor Crusaders|title=Bill Bleil - Football Coach - University of Mary Hardin–Baylor Athletics}} In January 2022, he was named offensive line coach at Stephen F. Austin University.{{Cite web|url=https://sfajacks.com/news/2022/1/19/football-bill-bell-tabbed-as-lumberjacks-ol-coach.aspx|title=Bill Bleil Tabbed as Lumberjacks OL Coach|date=January 19, 2022|website=Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks and Ladyjacks}}

In 2024, Bleil was hired as the offensive line coach for Pittsburg State University.{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}

Personal life

Bleil is married to Laurel Tjernagel of Roland, Iowa. They have two children.

Bleil's brother, Fred, was also a coach for several college teams until his death in 2011. The two brothers faced off against each other in a 2006 game between Akron and North Texas.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93990854/fort-worth-star-telegram/|newspaper=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|via=Newspapers.com|date=September 20, 2006|title=UNT needs to kick offense into gear|author=Phillips, Troy|page=Z11}} {{Open Access}}

Head coaching record

{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = no }}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = Western Carolina Catamounts

| conf = Southern Conference

| startyear = 1997

| endyear = 2001

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1997

| name = Western Carolina

| overall = 3–8

| conference = 3–5

| confstanding = 7th

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1998

| name = Western Carolina

| overall = 6–5

| conference = 5–3

| confstanding = 3rd

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 1999

| name = Western Carolina

| overall = 3–8

| conference = 2–6

| confstanding = 7th

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 2000

| name = Western Carolina

| overall = 4–7

| conference = 3–5

| confstanding = 7th

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| year = 2001

| name = Western Carolina

| overall = 7–4

| conference = 5–3

| confstanding = 4th

| bowlname =

| bowloutcome =

| bcsbowl =

| ranking = no

| ranking2 = no

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = Western Carolina

| overall = 23–32

| confrecord = 18–22

}}

{{CFB Yearly Record End

| overall = 23–32

| bowls = no

| poll = no

| pilltype =

| legend = no

}}

References

External links

[https://pittstategorillas.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/bill-bleil/1834 Pittsburg State profile]
[https://sfajacks.com/staff-directory/bill-bleil/467 Stephen F. Austin profile]

Category:1959 births

Category:Living people

Category:American football linebackers

Category:Akron Zips football coaches

Category:Dana Vikings football coaches

Category:Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds football coaches

Category:Iowa State Cyclones football coaches

Category:Lamar Cardinals football coaches

Category:Mary Hardin–Baylor Crusaders football coaches

Category:Missouri Southern Lions football coaches

Category:New Mexico Highlands Cowboys football coaches

Category:Northern Illinois Huskies football coaches