William Wirtz
Biographical details
Born(1887-06-25)June 25, 1887
Sandwich, Illinois, U.S.
DiedJune 14, 1965(1965-06-14) (aged 77)
DeKalb, Illinois, U.S.
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1910–1916Northern Illinois State Normal
Basketball
1910–1918Northern Illinois State Normal
Baseball
1912–1917Northern Illinois State Normal
Head coaching record
Overall33–17–9 (football)
57–31 (basketball)
29–15–1 (baseball)

William Wilbur Wirtz (June 25, 1887 – June 14, 1965) was a professor of foreign languages who also served as athletic director at Northern Illinois University. He was the head football coach at NIU from 1910 to 1916, compiling a record of 33–17–9. Wirtz was also the head basketball coach at Northern Illinois from 1910 to 1918 and the head baseball coach at the school from 1912 to 1917.

Wirtz grew up in Sandwich, Illinois and began his teaching career at age 19. He joined the faculty of Northern Illinois University in the early days of the school, then known as Northern Illinois State Normal School. He was on NIU's governing board from 1949 to 1953, serving as chairman for the last two years.[1] He also served on the Illinois Teachers College Board.[2]

Wirtz Hall on the NIU campus was named after him. The building was the original home of the NIU College of Business. Groundbreaking for Wirtz Hall took place in 1962, and the dedication ceremony was held in 1965 five months after Wirtz's death.[1][2]

Wirtz married Alfa Belle White and had three daughters, Marion, Frances and Kathryn, and two sons, Robert and William Willard. His son W. Willard Wirtz went on to serve as the Secretary of Labor between 1962 and 1969 under John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson.[3] He died on June 14, 1965, at the age of 77.[1]

Head coaching record

Football

Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs
Northern Illinois State Normal (Independent) (1910–1916)
1910 Northern Illinois State Normal 4–2–1
1911 Northern Illinois State Normal 8–1–2
1912 Northern Illinois State Normal 3–5
1913 Northern Illinois State Normal 3–3–3
1914 Northern Illinois State Normal 7–0–1
1915 Northern Illinois State Normal 2–5–1
1916 Northern Illinois State Normal 6–1–1
Northern Illinois State Normal: 33–17–9
Total:33–17–9

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Secretary Wirtz Will Be At NIU Dedication". Sterling Daily Gazette. November 27, 1965. p. 14.
  2. 1 2 "The College of Business is established". Northern Illinois University. Retrieved March 7, 2023. Wirtz Hall was the first permanent home of the College of Business. It was named for William W. Wirtz, a professor of foreign languages who also served as athletic director in the early 1900s and went on to serve on the statewide Teachers College Board.
  3. ↑ Greenhouse, Steven (April 25, 2010). "W. Willard Wirtz, Labor Chief, Dies at 98". New York Times. Retrieved March 7, 2023. William Willard Wirtz was born March 14, 1912, in DeKalb, Ill., the first child of William Wilbur Wirtz and Alfa Bell White Wirtz. He used his middle name to avoid confusion with his father.


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