Billy Sheridan
June 06, 1885 - January 01, 1960
Billy Sheridan was a wrestler of legendary stature in his native Scotland in the early years of the 20th Century, but it was as coach at Lehigh University that he earned lasting renown.
At the age of 19, in 1905, he won the Scottish wrestling crown at nine stone, or 126 pounds. Wrestling eight or nine times a week without ever losing a bout, he reigned as featherweight and lightweight champion of the British Isles until 1908.
He then emigrated to Ontario, Canada, but two years later moved to Philadelphia. To earn some extra money, he agreed to pose for the famous sculptor, Tait McKenzie, at the University of Pennsylvania, and chanced to observe the wrestling team in action. Unable to resist involvement, he offered suggestions and was invited to serve as coach and trainer. In 1911, he was recommended to Lehigh in a similar role.
Thus began his famed coaching career. It lasted 40 years, until his retirement in 1952, and produced 223 dual meet victories, only 83 losses and seven ties. In those four decades, he developed 59 Eastern Intercollegiate champions, five NCAA champions, five National AAU titlists and three Olympians. He also coached winning teams in soccer and lacrosse.
In 1936, he was an alternate coach for the United States Olympic team, and in 1951 was both coach and manager for the United States entry in the first Pan American Games. He refereed every bout in the first National Collegiate wrestling tournament in 1928.
Sheridan was the founder of the first summer wrestling camp in the United States in 1935. His coaching philosophy is summed up: "Whatever you do, do quickly."
For his profound influence on the sport of wrestling as a coach and teacher for four decades, William "Billy" Sheridan is honored as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Awards:
Year
1976
|
Award
Distinguished Member
|
Chapter/Region
National
|
All Coaching Dual Records:
Season
1952
|
School
Lehigh
|
Division |
Duals
10
|
Wins
5
|
Losses
5
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
50
|
Season
1951
|
School
Lehigh
|
Division |
Duals
9
|
Wins
8
|
Losses
1
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
88.89
|
Season
1950
|
School
Lehigh
|
Division |
Duals
11
|
Wins
8
|
Losses
3
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
72.73
|
Season
1949
|
School
Lehigh
|
Division |
Duals
12
|
Wins
10
|
Losses
2
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
83.33
|
Season
1948
|
School
Lehigh
|
Division |
Duals
10
|
Wins
9
|
Losses
1
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
90
|
Season
1947
|
School
Lehigh
|
Division |
Duals
10
|
Wins
9
|
Losses
1
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
90
|
Season
1946
|
School
Lehigh
|
Division |
Duals
8
|
Wins
6
|
Losses
2
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
75
|
Season
1945
|
School
Lehigh
|
Division |
Duals
8
|
Wins
3
|
Losses
5
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
37.5
|
Season
1944
|
School
Lehigh
|
Division |
Duals
9
|
Wins
7
|
Losses
1
|
Ties
1
|
Win PCT.
77.78
|
Season
1943
|
School
Lehigh
|
Division |
Duals
8
|
Wins
8
|
Losses
0
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
100
|
Season
1942
|
School
Lehigh
|
Division |
Duals
10
|
Wins
5
|
Losses
4
|
Ties
1
|
Win PCT.
50
|
Season
1941
|
School
Lehigh
|
Division |
Duals
9
|
Wins
6
|
Losses
2
|
Ties
1
|
Win PCT.
66.67
|
Season
1940
|
School
Lehigh
|
Division |
Duals
8
|
Wins
5
|
Losses
2
|
Ties
1
|
Win PCT.
62.5
|
Season
1939
|
School
Lehigh
|
Division |
Duals
9
|
Wins
9
|
Losses
0
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
100
|
Season
1938
|
School
Lehigh
|
Division |
Duals
9
|
Wins
6
|
Losses
2
|
Ties
1
|
Win PCT.
66.67
|
Season
1937
|
School
Lehigh
|
Division |
Duals
9
|
Wins
7
|
Losses
2
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
77.78
|
Season
1936
|
School
Lehigh
|
Division |
Duals
7
|
Wins
6
|
Losses
1
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
85.71
|
Season
1935
|
School
Lehigh
|
Division |
Duals
8
|
Wins
5
|
Losses
3
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
62.5
|
Season
1934
|
School
Lehigh
|
Division |
Duals
9
|
Wins
9
|
Losses
0
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
100
|
Season
1933
|
School
Lehigh
|
Division |
Duals
7
|
Wins
7
|
Losses
0
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
100
|
Season
1932
|
School
Lehigh
|
Division |
Duals
8
|
Wins
7
|
Losses
1
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
87.5
|
Season
1931
|
School
Lehigh
|
Division |
Duals
7
|
Wins
7
|
Losses
0
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
100
|
Season
1930
|
School
Lehigh
|
Division |
Duals
9
|
Wins
6
|
Losses
2
|
Ties
1
|
Win PCT.
66.67
|
Season
1929
|
School
Lehigh
|
Division |
Duals
8
|
Wins
8
|
Losses
0
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
100
|
Season
1928
|
School
Lehigh
|
Division |
Duals
8
|
Wins
7
|
Losses
1
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
87.5
|
Season
1927
|
School
Lehigh
|
Division |
Duals
6
|
Wins
3
|
Losses
3
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
50
|
Season
1926
|
School
Lehigh
|
Division |
Duals
6
|
Wins
4
|
Losses
2
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
66.67
|
Season
1925
|
School
Lehigh
|
Division |
Duals
7
|
Wins
4
|
Losses
3
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
57.14
|
Season
1924
|
School
Lehigh
|
Division |
Duals
7
|
Wins
4
|
Losses
3
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
57.14
|
Season
1923
|
School
Lehigh
|
Division |
Duals
7
|
Wins
5
|
Losses
2
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
71.43
|
Season
1922
|
School
Lehigh
|
Division |
Duals
6
|
Wins
1
|
Losses
5
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
16.67
|
Season
1921
|
School
Lehigh
|
Division |
Duals
7
|
Wins
4
|
Losses
3
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
57.14
|
Season
1920
|
School
Lehigh
|
Division |
Duals
7
|
Wins
2
|
Losses
5
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
28.57
|
Season
1919
|
School
Lehigh
|
Division |
Duals
5
|
Wins
3
|
Losses
2
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
60
|
Season
1918
|
School
Lehigh
|
Division |
Duals
5
|
Wins
3
|
Losses
2
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
60
|
Season
1917
|
School
Lehigh
|
Division |
Duals
6
|
Wins
4
|
Losses
2
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
66.67
|
Season
1916
|
School
Lehigh
|
Division |
Duals
5
|
Wins
3
|
Losses
2
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
60
|
Season
1915
|
School
Lehigh
|
Division |
Duals
6
|
Wins
3
|
Losses
3
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
50
|
Season
1914
|
School
Lehigh
|
Division |
Duals
6
|
Wins
2
|
Losses
3
|
Ties
1
|
Win PCT.
33.33
|
Season
1913
|
School
Lehigh
|
Division |
Duals
5
|
Wins
4
|
Losses
1
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
80
|
Season
1912
|
School
Lehigh
|
Division |
Duals
5
|
Wins
0
|
Losses
4
|
Ties
1
|
Win PCT.
0
|
Season
1911
|
School
Pennsylvania
|
Division |
Duals
5
|
Wins
0
|
Losses
4
|
Ties
1
|
Win PCT.
0
|
Season
Career
|
Duals
321
|
Wins
222
|
Losses
90
|
Ties
9
|
Win PCT.
69.16
|
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