Former Jacksonville State University football coach Bill Burgess has died. He was 82 years old.
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His son Rick confirmed the news on Wenesday morning's edition of the "Rick and Bubba Show".
“To many he is coach, but to his family is Husband, Dad and Pop,” Rick Burgess wrote on Instagram.. “Coaching was his profession but it was not his identity. God has been so gracious to me in so many ways. I will always be grateful that my heavenly Father gave me an earthy father like Bill Burgess. Truly one of a kind.”
Burgess led the Jax State for 12 seasons from 1985 to 1996, including the NCAA Division Two National Championship in 1992. Burgess’ total record at JSU was 84-49-4.
A Birmingham native, Burgess played a single season at Auburn University as a fullback in 1962. Coach Burgess had an outstanding career as a high school coach. Starting in 1966, Burgess became head coach at Woodlawn High School. From 1971 to 1984, he coached at Oxford High School.
In 2010, JSU renamed its football stadium as the Burgess-Snow Field in honor of Burgess. He is also a member of the Calhoun County Sports Hall of Fame, the JSU Hall of Fame, the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame and the Gulf South Conference Hall of Fame.
The Alabama Football Coaches Association presented him with their Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022.