2017-18 will mark Bill Eddins' second year as the head coach of the Pioneer women’s golf team and also his second season as an assistant coach for the Pioneer women’s basketball program.
In 2016-17, Eddins' first year as head coach, the Malone women's golf team experienced tremendous success as the Pioneers finished first, second or third as a team at nine of 10 events, including a runner-up finish at the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Championships.
Eddins also helped guide the women's basketball team to a Great Midwest Athletic Conference Championship in 2016-17 and the program's first-ever berth in the NCAA Division II National Tournament.
Eddins, who recently completed a 30-year career as a teacher in the Louisville, Lake and West Branch school districts, brought an abundance of coaching experience to his position at Malone. He served as Louisville High School’s head boys basketball coach from 1993-2001, collecting Division II Ohio Boys Basketball Coach of the Year honors in 2001 after leading the Leopards to their first undefeated regular season in school history.
In addition to his teaching experience and time as Louisville’s head boys basketball coach, Eddins has also held numerous other assistant coaching positions at Louisville, Lake, West Branch and Marlington. His accomplished resume also includes positions at the University of Mount Union as a resident director (1990-1995) and at the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a supervisor (2001-2004).
"I feel so blessed and fortunate to be given the opportunity to work as the head women's golf coach and an assistant for the women’s basketball team at Malone University,” commented Eddins at the time of his hiring.
Eddins graduated from Perry High School before going on to earn his bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Mount Union in 1987 and his master’s degree in Sports Science from Ashland University in 1994. A lengthy list of career honors and achievements includes being named Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers (1996), Stark County Schools Person of Character (2007), and a National Honor Society Person of Influence (2016).
“Having spent time with Athletic Director Charlie Grimes, it became clear to me that Malone is a great fit and a place that is on the move,” said Eddins.
Grimes was just as eagerly excited to bring Eddins on board. “Bill is an outstanding addition to our staff because of his love of teaching and years of experience in athletic coaching,” noted Grimes. “He is a dynamic and high-energy person, traits that are vital to success in our business. As a man of strong faith, he has an excellent vision already sketched out for our golfers both on and off the course. I look forward to seeing him not only lead our women's team in training and competing, but also serve our basketball programs with diligent administrative and educational support.”
