I really don't know much about his personal life, but he always came across to me as an honest, sincere man, and that's hard to beat, no matter what field you're in.
His genius was not just the development of the West Coast Offense (variations of which are the hallmark of just about any successful team playing today--including ol' chubby Al Borges' 'Gulf Coast' offense down at Auburn) but, as the linked article points out, the idea of the "coaching tree"--men whom he'd hired and developed and trained who would later go on to be his (successful) competitors. That sort of self-confidence is about as hard to find as honesty. Again, I don't know much about him personally, but I have to think his desire to serve as a mentor and encouragement to his subordinates had to at least partly be a result of how he felt when he got passed over by Paul Brown for the head coaching job with the Bengals. There are two ways to act when you feel like you've been cheated--complain and collapse, or use it as a learning experience.
Would that there were more who'd take the latter course.
Best wishes to his family, and may he rest in peace.
Posted by Terry Oglesby at July 30, 2007 02:48 PMBelieve it or not, my sister's father-in law was good friends with Bill. they had been college roommates, etc. ( Glen Albaugh) Bill was an upstanding guy, no BS about him, and was able to get my son an autograph at some point, don't know where it is at this time though. RIP Bill Walsh
Dr. Albaugh is no slouch himself when it comes to coaching. Here's a nice article about his and other friend's remembrances of Coach Walsh.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at July 31, 2007 10:20 AMThanks Terry.... I really had no idea. Called my sister to let her know about this article. appreciate you taking the time to check it out, and so does she.
W
My pleasure.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at August 1, 2007 09:44 AM