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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