In 1976 the superintendent of a small K-8 private school in central New Jersey decided that it was time to expand into offering a high school and soon thereafter open an athletic department. In 1976 the superintendent hired a young college graduate named William Bills to be the pioneer for Timothy Christian School (TCS) athletics. In 1977 the same school hired his new bride, Karen, to be the leader of the female side of the athletic department. In September of 2020, they celebrated retirement from TCS after 45 years of coaching, teaching, and leading.
A lot happened in 45 years as that school and athletics department grew. I cannot do justice trying to highlight 45 years of their impact on student-athletes, but here are a fraction of the highlights. Mr. Bills won more than 1,000 varsity games many of them on the soccer pitch where he nurtured a small soccer empire that produced NCAA national champion soccer players at a dizzying rate. (Messiah College men’s soccer which has won 11 NCAA national championships since 2000, was built on the TCS soccer player, in my not-so-humble opinion). Karen won more than 500 games after concluding her varsity coaching career earlier than Bill with more than 250 of those wins on the softball diamond. Mr. Bills is a member of the NJSIAA Coaching Hall of Fame.
For 9-years, I had the career-altering experience of being Mr. Bills’ AD. In 2007, he brought me in to replace himself deciding to move his career into only teaching and coaching. I have been misguided on a lot in my career as an athletic director, however I was never misguided on the fact that I was Mr. Bills’ AD leading Mr. Bills’ department. Maybe it was the fact that my father was a long-tenured leader at another small private school or God giving me a very small dose of wisdom, but I knew that I was stewarding something special. When I arrived at TCS to be the athletic director (AD) in 2007, Mr. Bills was beginning his 30th year. I was 29 years old with a little bit of experience, and whole lot of passion. I pursued a new opportunity in 2016 despite agonizing over whether I should leave that beloved community. Returning in September of 2020 to speak at his retirement at his request will be one of my most cherished professional experiences. This post is a reflection on that nine years and their retirement celebration.
Coaching is hard. Marriage is hard. To do both, together at the same place for 45 years, is historic. What I observed for nine years was intense, intentional impact of young people happening on the platform of athletics. Gender, race, religion, ethnicity, academic prowess, and economic standing all faded to the background as student-athletes of every imaginable background, color, and creed were loved by and loved Mr. and Mrs. Bills.
Here are 4 commitments that Mr. and Mrs. Bills made that I believe fueled such an unshakeable commitment to coaching young people and leading in a school community for 45 years. I hope it encourages you to lead with a greater sense of commitment...
A commitment to the right way – Mr. and Mrs. Bills both had an un-scratch-able itch to do things the right way. For the first 15 years of their career they did not have their own gym. The gyms they rented were kept in immaculate condition. Floors were carefully waxed, corners were meticulously swept, and bleachers were precisely maintenance. The Bills’ would conduct fundraisers to improve the facilities that they were renting! The reputation of ‘what TCS athletics does, they do well’ spread quickly. The same intense commitment to the ‘right way’ was applied to their own gym when it was built, soccer fields, baseball diamonds, paperwork, end-of-season banquets, and camps. For 9 years, I helped maintain this standard. I learned so much about digging in deep to do things the right way.
A commitment to the student-athlete. Student-athletes were held accountable by Mr. and Mrs. Bills. However, this coaching couple was also quick to advocate for the student-athlete to others. I believe this the combination of ‘accountability and advocacy’ is what generated such intense loyalty amongst the student-athletes and their families. I once walked into a busy gymnasium at the end of a long day of school and practices and found Mr. Bills sitting on the floor at midcourt staring at the sealing. Sitting next to him also staring at the ceiling was a student-athlete that was incredibly talented but also notoriously unfocused. The student-athlete frustrated Mr. Bills often. However, in this student-athlete-centric moment, there on the floor was a hall of fame coach in his mid-50’s staring at the ceiling talking about life with an immature 17-year-old. Fast forward 13 years and that 17-year-old is now an emergency room doctor in New York City and helped that city move through the COVID-19 pandemic.
A commitment to each other. Bill and Karen were very competitive. They were also ‘type A’ personalities obsessing over details, calendars, and preparation. They wanted things organized to the final detail with nothing left to chance. They broke the mold of ‘opposites attract’. Bill and Karen were feisty on a good day and downright fiery on a not-so-good day. I lived life with them for 9 years and the only person that I saw Bill and Karen yield their intense personalities to were each other. They would continuously run errands for each other, trying to make the most of rare free moments during 12-hour days coaching, teaching, and leading. From my vantage point, their marriage was anchored in those daily expressions of unselfishness. Thousands of students over 45 years had a front row seat to marriage 101. It is a vivid reminder to those that are married and working in the hectic world of sport that you are never too busy to be unselfish with your spouse. If you are, you might not have a spouse very long.
A commitment to a bigger purpose. Coaching in school was not a job for Bill and Karen. It was a ministry, a calling. The hourly rate makes no sense unless you believe that what you are doing is for a greater purpose. *PRO TIP: If you are a coach or an athletic director, never run an ‘hourly wage’ comparison on your job. Bill and Karen had faith in Jesus Christ and believed their lives had a very specific purpose and that purpose was to use athletics as a training tool to prepare young people to live their lives well. Athletic directors and coaches need to commit themselves to a bigger purpose. It is the only way to effectively demonstrate the healthy commitment necessary with the lives of young people in your hands.
Ted Geisel, better known as Dr. Suess, once said, ‘don’t be sad it’s over, be glad it happened.’ Honestly, I’m a little sad that Bill and Karen have concluded their incredible careers. But I also join thousands of others that they impacted in being so very glad it happened.
Keep on, keeping on, friends!
‘Bite Down and Don’t Let Go’ is a collection of writings on being intentional about life in a way that produces great persistence. Read about it more here.
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