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Auburn remembers Bill Burgess, former player and Jacksonsville State coach, who died at 82
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Auburn mourned the loss of former player Bill Burgess on Wednesday.
Burgess played running back for the Tigers from 1961-1962 and died at the age of 82. He is a member of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame and was the coach at Jacksonville State for 12 seasons.
Alabama Sports Hall of Fame Executive Director Alvin Briggs shared some insight into the kind of person Burgess was as a coach. Burgess took pride in preparing players for life after football.
“We are indeed saddened to learn of Coach Bill Burgess’ death,” Briggs said. “He was a legendary coach and strong leader who helped mold his teams and players into champions – several former players following him into the coaching profession. He was a mentor to so many and always a gentleman of outstanding character and faith. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and to the many student-athletes who had the opportunity to play on one of his teams.”
We mourn the loss of Bill Burgess, former Auburn football player (1961-62), Jacksonville State head coach and Alabama Sports Hall of Famer, who passed away at the age of 82.
Our thoughts are with his family, friends and former players. pic.twitter.com/SqUqYhK6ny
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) December 13, 2023
Burgess had an overall record of 79-22-4 while with the Gamecocks. He won the 1992 Division II National Coach of the Year award at Jacksonville State.
Coaches don’t have to have an interest in their players lives, but Burgess did. The game of college football lost a great example of what it means to be a coach.
Grant Bricker was a former freelancer for The News TN in his hometown of Nashville, Tennessee. He now freelances for Saturday Football. Follow on Twitter @GrantBricker.
