Former Widener football coach Bill Manlove was by the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association for his induction last year into the College Football Hall of Fame.
One of the true gentlemen in all of athletics, Manlove coached 23 seasons at Widener (1969-91) and guided the team to NCAA Division III championships in 1977 and 1981. He also was a part of 10 Middle Atlantic Conference championships, seven NCAA Tournament appearances and four undefeated regular seasons during his tenure.
During Manlove’s time, 31 of Widener’s student-athletes were tabbed All-America, three were drafted by National Football League teams and 20 were signed by either NFL, World Football League, United States Football League or Canadian Football League squads.
Manlove, who also is the school’s former director of athletics, is the program’s winningest coach with a 182-53-1 record for a .773 winning percentage. Widener was 9-5 in the NCAA Tournament during his time and 2-0 in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl, the Division III title game.
Among his great players include Billy “White Shoes” Johnson and Tom Deery. Johnson (1971-73) was an explosive rusher and kick returner who set a multitude of MAC records before embarking on a storied NFL career. Deery led Widener to a 42-3 record during his four years (1978-81) as a standout defensive back and kick returner, helping the team to the 1981 national championship.
Manlove was honored as MAC Coach of the Year nine times. He was named AFCA (American Football Coaches Association) Division II-III National Coach of the Year in 1977 and Regional/District Coach of the Year in 1977 and 1980.
He was very involved with college football by being a part of NCAA Communications Committee, Football Rules Committee and Division III Football Committees. He was elected to the AFCA Board of Trustees in 1983 and served as the association’s President in 1991. Manlove has also been ECAC Committee Chair and MAC President.
Manlove began his coaching career as an assistant at Gloucester City High School from 1957-59 before becoming head coach for five years. He moved to Oakcrest High School as head coach and was an assistant at Lafayette College from 1967-68 before taking the job at Widener. Manlove went on to Delaware Valley College in 1992 for four years before coaching five seasons at LaSalle University.
Overall, Manlove owns a 212-110-1 record in 32 years as a collegiate head coach.
Manlove graduated Haddon Heights High School in 1951 and enlisted with the U.S. Army. He received his Bachelor of Science in Education in 1958 and his Master’s in 1960 from Temple.
The ceremony on July 16 was Manlove’s third induction into a major Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Camden County Sports Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame one year later.
Manlove last December served as head coach of Team Stars & Stripes at the Tazon de Estrellas (All-Star Bowl) in Pueblo, Mexico