Members
Inductee
BLESS, BILL
BLESS, BILL
Born on May 27, 1939
Indianapolis
May 6, 2016.
Inducted On
June 18, 1994
Location Inducted
Indianapolis, IN
Region Number
7
Uindy
Coach
Warren Central, Indianapolis
1957
Football co-captain and Most Valuable Player in senior year.
Indiana Central College (now known as University of Indianapolis)
1963
Earned 4 letters as an offensive and defensive lineman; co-captain senior year; named as a linebacker on Greyhound's All-Time Football Team.
Served as a professor in Health/PE Department at U of I 29 years; served on City Council for over 20 years; served as acting mayor of Greenwood, IN, 1991; inducted into U of I Athletics Hall of Fame.
Wife, Beverly; children, Jennie (John), Mark (Nancy), Scott (Laura), and Tim (Jill); six grandchildren
Coaching Experience: Assistant coach at Greensburg, IN, 1964-1966, then head coach 1966–1968; head coach at Whiteland HS 1968-1970; assistant coach at University of Indianapolis 1970-1972 and head coach 1972-1993; career head coaching record of 114-98-9.
Coaching Honors: Alumni Varsity Club Coach of the Year 1968 and 1975; Conference Coach of the Year 1975, 1978, and 1981; winningest coach in U of I history.
Outstanding Players Coached: Six Kodak All-America players - Dick Nalley (1973-1976), who was Indiana’s all-time collegiate rushing record holder; Tom Zupancic (1974-1977), who became a strength and conditioning coach for Indianapolis Colts; also produced 4 Tony Hinkle Scholar/Athlete Award winners and 90 All-Conference players; coached his three sons in college - two All-Conference and one All-American.
Coaching Honors: Alumni Varsity Club Coach of the Year 1968 and 1975; Conference Coach of the Year 1975, 1978, and 1981; winningest coach in U of I history.
Outstanding Players Coached: Six Kodak All-America players - Dick Nalley (1973-1976), who was Indiana’s all-time collegiate rushing record holder; Tom Zupancic (1974-1977), who became a strength and conditioning coach for Indianapolis Colts; also produced 4 Tony Hinkle Scholar/Athlete Award winners and 90 All-Conference players; coached his three sons in college - two All-Conference and one All-American.
