Induction Speech
Bill Bailes’ coaching career just got started when most coaches retire. But through four head coaches and 27 years, Bailes served the Millersville football program as a dedicated and faithful volunteer, helping the team to 145 victories and six PSAC Eastern Division Championships. He continued tutoring the Marauders’ specialists until he was 82 years old and believed to be the second oldest active coach in all of college football—behind only Penn State’s Joe Paterno.
Bailes played one season of football as a quarterback and punter at Millersville, and that was enough for him to realize he wanted to be a college football coach someday. But not until a three-year stint in the U.S. Army, graduation from Millersville in 1959 and 26 years of teaching social studies at Lampeter-Strasburg high school did Bailes have the chance to fulfill his dream. At the age of 57, Bailes began coaching kickers, punters and long snappers under the late Dr. Gene Carpenter.
With Bailes on staff, the Marauders went 41-13 in his first five seasons. He coached in five NCAA Division II playoff games. All football coaches know that special teams can win and lose games, and Bailes’ specialists were certainly well-coached and productive. His punters and kickers garnered 13 All-PSAC East honors, and players that he coached own school records for field goals, PATs, punting average and longest punt.
Bailes’ selflessness to the program was unmatched, and he was reward not once, but twice, with the Millersville Football Alumni Award (1995 and 2011).
Prior to joining the Millersville football program, Bailes started the wrestling and cross country programs and served as the coach for four sports at Lampeter-Starsburg. He was inducted into the inaugural Lampeter-Strasburg Hall of Fame class.
