Bill Wilkinson (ice hockey)
{{Infobox college coach
| name =
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| current_title =
| current_team =
| current_conference =
| current_record =
| contract =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1947|4|22}}
| birth_place = Goderich, ONT, CAN
| death_date =
| death_place =
| alma_mater = St. Lawrence University
| player_years1 = 1967–1970
| player_team1 = St. Lawrence
| player_positions = Forward
| coach_years1 = 1971–1978
| coach_team1 = St. Lawrence(assistant)
| coach_years2 = 1978–1979
| coach_team2 = North Dakota (assistant)
| coach_years3 = 1979–1982
| coach_team3 = Bowling Green (assistant)
| coach_years4 = 1982–1999
| coach_team4 = Western Michigan
| coach_years5 = 1999–2008
| coach_team5 = Wayne State
| coach_years6 = 2008–2011
| coach_team6 = CH Jaca
| coach_years7 = 2011–2012
| coach_team7 = Melbourne Mustangs
| overall_record = 437–469–81 ({{winpct|437|469|81}})
| bowl_record =
| tournament_record = 0–5 ({{winpct|0|5}})
| championships = 1986 CCHA Tournament champion
2001 CHA Tournament champion
2002 CHA Champion
2002 CHA tournament champion
2003 CHA tournament champion
| awards = 1984 CCHA Coach of the Year
1986 CCHA Coach of the Year
1996 CCHA Coach of the Year
2002 CHA Coach of the Year
| coaching_records =
}}
William Wilkinson (born April 22, 1947) is a retired Canadian ice hockey coach. He coached the Wayne State Warriors men's ice hockey program for its entire 9-year existence at the Division I level. Prior to that, Wilkinson coach the Western Michigan for seventeen seasons.
Career
Wilkinson played for St. Lawrence for three years, leading the team in scoring as a sophomore and serving as the team captain in his senior season. After graduating in 1970 Wilkinson taught high school for a year before returning to Canton as an assistant coach for his alma mater.{{cite web |url=http://ahcahockey.com/news/1516/0114awa.php?DB_OEM_ID=4600 |title=2016 AHCA Major Awards Are Announced |publisher=American Hockey Coaches Association |date=January 14, 2016 |accessdate=October 20, 2018 |archive-date=October 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181021111439/http://ahcahockey.com/news/1516/0114awa.php?DB_OEM_ID=4600 |url-status=dead }}
Wilkinson served as an assistant for St. Lawrence for seven years, leaving to accept a similar position at North Dakota for one season. He spent a further three seasons as an assistant at Bowling Green under Jerry York before getting his first head coaching job at Western Michigan.{{cite web |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/03/29/The-appointment-of-Bill-Wilkinson-as-hockey-coach-at/1115386226000/ |title=The appointment of Bill Wilkinson as hockey coach at... |publisher=UPI Archives |date=March 29, 1982 |accessdate=October 20, 2018}} After a poor showing in his first year the Broncos produced their first 20+ win season at the D-I level, earning Wilkinson the CCHA Coach of the Year. Two years later Wilkinson got the Broncos to surprising 32-win season, the program's only 30-win season (as of 2018),{{cite web |url=https://www.uscho.com/stats/history/western-michigan/mens-hockey/ |title=Western Michigan Men's Hockey Team History|publisher=USCHO.com |accessdate=October 20, 2018}} won the CCHA Tournament and reached the NCAA tournament for the first time. The team declined to a mediocre level for much of the next seven years before finally returning to the NCAA tournament in 1994. The Broncos made another trip to the playoffs two years later but remained winless in NCAA postseason play under Wilkinson.
During the 1998–99 season two of Wilkinson's players were arrested at a team party in a building that Wilkinson owned.{{cite web |url=https://www.uscho.com/1999/02/03/wmu-fires-head-coach-wilkinson/ |title=WMU Fires Head Coach Wilkinson |publisher=USCHO.com |date=February 3, 1999 |accessdate=October 20, 2018}} An internal investigation was started and the entire team was subsequently suspended for violations of NCAA regulations. Wilkinson was eventually fired as head coach on February 3 but allowed to remain at the university as a special assistant to the AD. Once the season was over Wilkinson formally left and later took over as head coach for the newly created program at Wayne State.{{cite web |url=https://www.uscho.com/2007/11/20/wayne-state-ad-vents-about-wsu-folding-program/ |title=Wayne State AD Vents About WSU Folding Program |publisher=USCHO.com |date=November 20, 2007 |accessdate=October 20, 2018}} The Warriors played as an independent for one season before joining the CHA. Wayne State produced a modest record their first season in conference but won both of their games in the CHA Tournament to earn Wilkinson his second conference championship. The Warriors followed that up by winning 20 games the next year, winning the CHA regular season title and claiming their second consecutive championship. With all of that team success Wilkinson was awarded with the CHA Coach of the Year. In 2003, with the NCAA tournament expanding to 16 teams, the CHA was to receive its first automatic bid and the two-time champions didn't disappoint, winning 20 games once more and claiming their third consecutive tournament championship. In the tournament Wayne State was set against the #2 overall seed Colorado College and, despite a valiant effort, could not overcome three power play goals from the Tigers.{{cite news|title=Colorado College 4, Wayne State 2 |url=http://www.uscho.com/box/mens-hockey/2003/03/29/wayne-state-vs-colorado-college/ |publisher=USCHO.com |date=March 29, 2003 |accessdate=June 16, 2013}}
After their three year run the Warriors declined sharply and never produced another winning record.{{cite news|title=Bill Wilkinson Coaching Record |url=https://www.collegehockeynews.com/reports/coach/Bill-Wilkinson/2856 |publisher=College Hockey News |accessdate=October 20, 2018}} In 2007 the university announced it was shuttering the men's team, citing a $500K annual operating cost coupled with no on-campus rink and a troubled economy.
Wilkinson continued to coach after Wayne State shut down, spending three seasons with CH Jaca and then a six-month stint with the Melbourne Mustangs before retiring.
Career statistics
| BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" width="60%" style="text-align:center" |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
!colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" | !rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" | !colspan="5" |Regular season |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
!Season !Team !League !GP !G !A !Pts !PIM |
| 1967–68
|NCAA |24 |15 |21 |36 |– |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 1968–69 |St. Lawrence Saints |NCAA |– |– |– |– |– |
| 1969–70
|St. Lawrence Saints |NCAA |– |– |– |– |– |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0" |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
!colspan="3" | NCAA totals !75 !30 !66 !96 !– |
Head Coaching Record
{{CBB Yearly Record Start
|type=coach
|conference=
|postseason=
|poll=no
}}
{{CIH yearly record subhead
|name = Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey
|color = color:white; background:#6C4023; {{box-shadow border|a|#B5A167|2px}}
|startyear = 1982
|conflong = Central Collegiate Hockey Association
|conference = CCHA
|endyear = 1999
|}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 1982–83
| name = Western Michigan
| overall = 11–23–2
| conference = 10–20–2
| confstanding = t-9th
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 1983–84
| name = Western Michigan
| overall = 22–18–2
| conference = 13–14–1
| confstanding = 5th
| postseason = CCHA runner-up
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 1984–85
| name = Western Michigan
| overall = 22–16–2
| conference = 18–13–1
| confstanding = 3rd
| postseason = CCHA quarterfinals
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference tournament
| season = 1985–86
| name = Western Michigan
| overall = 32–12–0
| conference = 23–9–0
| confstanding = T–2nd
| postseason = NCAA quarterfinals
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 1986–87
| name = Western Michigan
| overall = 23–20–0
| conference = 16–16–0
| confstanding = 5th
| postseason = CCHA consolation game (loss)
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 1987–88
| name = Western Michigan
| overall = 22–17–3
| conference = 17–12–3
| confstanding = 4th
| postseason = CCHA consolation game (loss)
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 1988–89
| name = Western Michigan
| overall = 14–23–6
| conference = 9–17–6
| confstanding = 6th
| postseason = CCHA quarterfinals
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 1989–90
| name = Western Michigan
| overall = 14–24–2
| conference = 12–18–2
| confstanding = T–5th
| postseason = CCHA quarterfinals
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 1990–91
| name = Western Michigan
| overall = 22–17–3
| conference = 16–14–2
| confstanding = 4th
| postseason = CCHA consolation game (win)
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 1991–92
| name = Western Michigan
| overall = 16–14–6
| conference = 14–12–6
| confstanding = 4th
| postseason = CCHA quarterfinals
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 1992–93
| name = Western Michigan
| overall = 20–16–2
| conference = 17–11–2
| confstanding = 5th
| postseason = CCHA first round
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 1993–94
| name = Western Michigan
| overall = 24–13–3
| conference = 18–10–2
| confstanding = 4th
| postseason = NCAA East Regional Quarterfinals
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 1994–95
| name = Western Michigan
| overall = 17–18–5
| conference = 9–14–4
| confstanding = T–6th
| postseason = CCHA quarterfinals
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 1995–96
| name = Western Michigan
| overall = 27–11–3
| conference = 21–6–3
| confstanding = T-3rd
| postseason = NCAA East Regional Quarterfinals
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 1996–97
| name = Western Michigan
| overall = 14–18–5
| conference = 10–12–5
| confstanding = T–5th
| postseason = CCHA quarterfinals
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 1997–98
| name = Western Michigan
| overall = 10–25–3
| conference = 9–19–2
| confstanding = 9th
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 1998–99
| name = Western Michigan
| overall = 3–16–6†
| conference = 2–13–6†
| confstanding =
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Western Michigan
| overall = 313–301–53
| confrecord = 234–230–47
}}
{{CIH yearly record subhead
|name = Wayne State Warriors men's ice hockey
|color = color:white; background:#115E56; {{box-shadow border|a|#C79316|2px}}
|startyear = 1999
|conflong = NCAA Division I independent schools (ice hockey)
|conference = Independent
|endyear = 2000
|}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 1999–00
| name = Wayne State
| overall = 12–16–2
| conference =
| confstanding =
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Wayne State
| overall = 12–16–2
| confrecord =
}}
{{CIH yearly record subhead
|name = {{color|white|Wayne State Warriors}}
|color = color:white; background:#115E56; {{box-shadow border|a|#C79316|2px}}
|startyear = 2000
|conflong = College Hockey America
|conference = CHA
|endyear = 2008
|}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference tournament
| season = 2000–01
| name = Wayne State
| overall = 18–14–3
| conference = 8–9–3
| confstanding = 3rd
| postseason = CHA Champion
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = confboth
| season = 2001–02
| name = Wayne State
| overall = 21–11–4
| conference = 15–2–3
| confstanding = 1st
| postseason = CHA Champion
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference tournament
| season = 2002–03
| name = Wayne State
| overall = 21–17–2
| conference = 11–7–2
| confstanding = T–3rd
| postseason = NCAA Midwest Regional semifinal
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2003–04
| name = Wayne State
| overall = 9–24–3
| conference = 5–15–1
| confstanding = 6th
| postseason = CHA semifinals
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2004–05
| name = Wayne State
| overall = 14–17–4
| conference = 7–9–4
| confstanding = 4th
| postseason = CHA quarterfinals
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2005–06
| name = Wayne State
| overall = 6–23–6
| conference = 3–12–5
| confstanding = 6th
| postseason = CHA quarterfinals
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2006–07
| name = Wayne State
| overall = 12–21–2
| conference = 8–10–2
| confstanding = 4th
| postseason = CHA quarterfinals
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2007–08
| name = Wayne State
| overall = 11–25–2
| conference = 6–14–0
| confstanding = 4th
| postseason = CHA semifinals
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Wayne State
| overall = 112–152–26
| confrecord = 63–78–20
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record End
|overall = 437–469–81
|conference =
}}
† Wilkinson was fired in the midst of an internal investigation into team activities.
See also
References
{{reflist|50em}}
External links
- {{hockeydb|6076|Bill Wilkinson}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-ach}}
{{succession box
| before = Jerry Welsh
Ron Mason
Buddy Powers
| title = CCHA Coach of the Year
| years = 1983–84
1985–86
1995–96
| after = Ron Mason
Val Belmonte
Mark Mazzoleni
}}
{{succession box
| before = Craig Barnett
| title = CHA Coach of the Year
| years = 2001–02
| after = Doug Ross
}}
{{S-end}}
{{Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey navbox}}
{{Wayne State Warriors men's ice hockey navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilkinson, Bill}}
Category:Canadian ice hockey centres
Category:Canadian ice hockey coaches
Category:Canadian ice hockey defencemen
Category:Ice hockey people from Huron County, Ontario
Category:St. Lawrence Saints men's ice hockey players
Category:Wayne State Warriors men's ice hockey coaches