Bill Ireland - Inducted 1999

Biography:

UNLV has turned out many great football players over the years. From Randall Cunningham and Ickey Woods to Keenan McCardell, UNLV has seen its share of success on the football field. They all have Bill Ireland to thank for it.
In 1967, Ireland became the first football coach in the history of Nevada Southern University. The school would later change its name to UNLV. Ireland took on the daunting task of a start-up football program and compiled an amazing 8-1 record – still a record for a first-year program playing a schedule against four-year universities.
After seven years on the sidelines, Ireland gave up the whistle and became athletic director and took on another daunting task. He oversaw UNLV’s emergence to the Division 1 level and was present for the school’s first trip to the Final Four.

The Ireland File

Born: April 29, 1927 in McGill, Nevada

Died: July 31, 2007

Education: Nevada-Reno (1952)

Claim to Fame: First football coach in UNLV history; as athletic director took UNLV to Division 1.