Members
Inductee
MELBY, WILLIAM
MELBY, WILLIAM
Born on March 3, 1970
Chicago Heights, Illinois
Inducted On
May 1, 2022
Location Inducted
Merrillville, Indiana
Region Number
1
Munster High School
Player
Munster High School
Bill participated in football, wrestling, and baseball when at Munster. He was a two-year starter on a very strong football team on both sides of the ball which earned him All-Conference, All- Area, All-State, and amember of the Indiana North All-Star Team. His junior year, the team made it to the final four in the state tournament and his senior year made it to the final eight.
In wrestling, his accomplishments include, conference championships, two-time state qualifier, and placed 5th in the state his senior year in the heavyweight division.
The Citadel
At the Citadel, Bill earned second team all-conference honors, was a pre-season all-american, Gold Star and Deans List student. He won the "Team First Award" as well as being the team leader in sack and tackles for loss in both 1989 & 1990. Bill had a career high 86 tackles in 1989. He ranks 5th all-time in career tackles for loss and 8th in career sacks.
Bill's biggest accomplishment was being named Team Captain his senior year in 1991. Coach Charlie Taffe (1992 National Coach of the Year) was quoted as saying, "Bill Melby is the toughest player I ever coached".
Bill and his wife Dianna (Wingis) have three children, Joseph, Will and Haley.
In 1992, Bill started his teaching career at Gavit High School. The following year he was the youngest head football coach in the state of Indiana at the age of 22. He was a head football coach for almost 20 years (Gavit and Lake Central).
