CHESTER, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — For 22 years, between 1969 and 1991, Widener University football was led by Bill Manlove. What kept him going all those years?
“Winning,” Manlove said in a recent interview with KYW Newsradio.
The 92-year-old amassed a record of 182 wins, 53 losses, and one tie in his tenure. It consisted of more than a few undefeated seasons and two national championships — some of Manlove’s fondest memories.
“Those games did so much not just for me, but for my players, the school. They were just amazing moments,” he said.
For his career, Widener is honoring Manlove with a statue of him outside its football stadium.
As for his players, Manlove just hopes he had as big an impact on them as they did on him.
Tim Mooney is one of those players.
“Taught us a lot of things that transitioned into life, working hard, teamwork, respect,” he said.
Robert Buckley was a swimmer but still interacted with Manlove because he was also the athletic director. He called the coach “an impeccable individual.”
“He guided our life to try and emulate what he achieved — that's winning in a fair way at all costs,” said Buckley.
Sixty-six years on, Manlove is still coaching football, but now as an assistant at Delaware Valley University.