Princeton University Athletics
Bill Hickey Named Sprint Football Coach
April 18, 2003 | Sprint Football
April 18, 2003
Princeton, N.J. - Bill Hickey, an assistant coach with Princeton's football program the last two seasons, was named head sprint football coach at the University today. Hickey becomes the 12th lightweight coach in the 71-year program history. He replaces Keith Wadsworth, who resigned after three seasons at the helm.
"It's great to be part of the rich tradition of Princeton Sprint Football," says Hickey. "The program began in 1931 and has had so many great players and men like Donald Rumsfeld '54 come through the ranks. It's good to be part of something so special."
Hickey began his coaching career at Notre Dame High School in Price, Utah. He guided his team to a state championship and three regional championships in only three seasons there. His first college job was at the University of Wyoming, where he coached running backs and scouted. Hickey returned to high school coaching for two seasons and won two state championships at Mullen High School in Denver, Colo. His overall win-loss record there was 23-0-1. After a brief stint at Colorado State, Hickey became an assistant coach at his alma mater, Notre Dame, in 1970. He coached the offensive line and served as the assistant director of player personnel, helping the Irish win the 1973 College Football Championship.
Hickey left Notre Dame for Army, where he stayed for a season before taking the head job at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. He left coaching in 1980 and returned as an assistant at Yale in 1992. In 1994 Hickey became the General Manager and Director of Player Personnel for the Berlin Bears of the European Football League.
"We feel fortunate that Bill [Hickey] has agreed to coach the sprint football team," says Princeton Athletics Director Gary Walters. "He is extraordinarily well qualified and understands the educational role that athletics play at Princeton."
Hickey joined the Princeton football family in 2001 as an assistant. He now inherits a program that won its last conference title in 1989, which was also the last time it finished the season with a winning record. The Tigers open the 2003 sprint football campaign on Sept. 26 versus Cornell.