Bill Sproule

Bill Sproule

Born in Lansford, Bill’s family moved to Coaldale near the end of eighth grade and he then graduated from the Coaldale High School in 1955. Bill played both football and basketball and was co-captain of the football team. He also played American Legion baseball for Coaldale and Lansford.

Following high school, Bill played both football and baseball for the Valley Forge Military Academy in Wayne, PA. He accepted a four year football scholarship to Syracuse University. He was a letter winner and a member of the 1958 Orange Bowl and the 1959 Cotton Bowl and National Champion Football Teams. Bill received the Outstanding Scholar-Athlete Award his senior year and graduated in 1960 with a B.S. degree in Education. He also played football while serving on active duty as an officer with the U.S. Army.

Bill married the late Joanne Pavlick and they had three children, Ann, Bill Jr., and Donna, and two grandchildren. He furthered his education by earning an M.S. Degree from Brooklyn College, and a Doctoral Degree from Penn State University.

After college, Bill coached football, basketball and baseball at Smithtown and Waterville, N.Y., and in 1969 he was hired as the offensive line coach at Bloomsburg University. He then served as head football coach for five years and as an assistant coach for seven years. He was a faculty member and an administrator of the Department of Athletics and Physical Education, and he also was golf coach and assistant wrestling coach.

While in Bloomsburg, Bill was instrumental in developing the Cardiac Rehabilitation Department at the local hospital as well as undergraduate and graduate degree programs in Adult Fitness at the University. He was awarded professor emeritus status at his retirement.

Bill currently serves as a consultant to numerous school districts. He is an avid golfer and sailor, and resides with his wife, Dolores Yaschur, in Allentown, PA.