Rollie Williams

Rollie Williams (1897-1968)

Teams coached: Iowa Hawkeyes
Iowa record: 139-131 (.515)
Overall record: 139-131 (.515)

Career Accomplishments:

  • NCAA National Championships:  0
  • NCAA Tournament Appearances:  0
  • NIT Championships:  0
  • NIT Appearances:  0

Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):

1950-1951 Iowa
1929-1942 Iowa
1923-1924 Millikin

Rollie Williams Facts

  • Roland Franklin Williams
  • Born October 11, 1897
  • Died April 5, 1968
  • Hometown: Edgerton, Wisconsin
  • Alma Mater: University of Wisconsin (BA, 1923)
  • The Wisconsin-native played three sports for the Badgers: basketball (for Hall of Fame head coach Walter “Doc” Meanwell), football (for head coach John R. Richards) and baseball
    • Briefly played pro football after graduation with the Racine Legion, an early NFL franchise
    • Williams was later inducted into the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame (class of 1960)
  • First coaching position was at Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois, where he led the basketball, football and baseball teams
  • Williams became the head basketball coach at Iowa in 1929, coaching the Hawkeyes for the next 13 years (14 in total)
    • Went 139-131 overall, stepping away in 1942 to serve in the US Navy during World War II
    • Later returned to coach for the 1950-51 season, going 15-7
    • Among his former players was Heisman Trophy winner Nile Kinnick; the football star played basketball as a freshman
  • Worked at the University for a total of 24 years, working in athletic administration after halting his coaching career
  • Died in 1968 at the age of 70 after suffering a heart attack at home in North Liberty, Iowa

Rollie Williams Coaching Tree

  • coming soon

 

^ overall record includes head coaching positions at the NCAA University Division (now Division I) level only