Endorsements

WILLIAM W. (BILL) COLLICK BIOGRAPHY:

Bill Collick’s legacy at Delaware State University includes the most coaching wins in the history of the Hornet’s football program and a successful stint as the university’s Director of Athletics.

For 12 years, Collick guided the DSU football program through the most celebrated period in team history. During his tenure, the Hornet’s posted an overall record of 81-48 and captured five Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) championships. Collick’s teams averaged nearly seven wins per season and his winning percentage (.628) was among the tops in Division 1-AA from 1985-1996. In addition, his 44 wins in the MEAC conference ranked second in the history of the league at the time of his retirement.

During his tenure as Head Football Coach, in the 1990’s, Collick’s teams would be the subject of some outstanding football comeback wins. The outstanding comebacks would begin with a win over MEAC rival Bethune-Cookman as the Hornet’s would storm back to win 56-42 after trailing the Wildcats 26-6 at half-time. Furthermore, in the same year Delaware State would storm back to defeat Liberty University and former NFL Head Coach Sam Rutigliano 38-37 after trailing 37-9 at the onset of the 4th quarter. In 1991, Delaware State would upset the 1-AA Champions Youngstown State in Alumni Stadium 33-29, coming from behind in the 4th quarter to win. The above trend would carry over in the 1992 season as Delaware State would defeat Grambling University 45-42 and legendary Black College and NCAA Coach Eddie Robinson at the Silver Dome in Detroit, Michigan. The Hornet’s would score in the 4th quarter to win 45-42 after trailing big in the game.

Under Coach Collick, a total of 63 Delaware State players earned All- American First Team honors; eight were named to various All-American teams and more than 20 signed professional football contracts. Additionally, some of Collick’s former players have joined the ranks of high school and college gridiron coaches as well as careers in law enforcement, higher education, and business.

Working with his coaching staff and the DSU administration, Collick was instrumental in ensuring that the vast majority of his players earned degrees. Also, an increasing number of Hornet players obtained advanced degrees during his tenure.

Bill Collick also earned the respect of his college coaching peers. As a member of the American Football Coaches Association, he was appointed to serve on the NCAA Football Rules Committee as well as serving as Chairman of the MEAC Ethics Committee under Commissioner Charles Harris.

Prior to accepting the head football job, Collick served as DSU’s Wrestling coach and led the team to the school’s only MEAC wrestling title in 1984.

When appointed as Delaware State’s Director of Athletics in 1995, Coach Collick immediately committed himself to improving athletics facilities and support services for all Hornet athletes.

He co-founded The Hornet Club, an athletic fund raising organization for alumni and friends of the program. Collick also helped organize the first annual Delaware State Celebrity Golf Tournament which became the major fund raiser to benefit DSU athletics.

Collick is well known for efforts on behalf of many charitable organizations throughout the area, including United Way of Delaware, the Delaware Arthritis Foundation, Faith Elementary School, Westside New Beginnings, YMCA, Muscular Dystrophy, and Big Brothers of Delaware. He is currently a board member of the non-profit organization (Pathways to Success) and the MERIT program, as well as, the Cape Henlopen School District, Habitat for Humanity, the Lewes Historical Society and the Rosa Health Center.

Collick has earned degrees from Wesley College (Associates Degree), University of Delaware (BS), and Wilmington College (M.Ed.).

In 1992, Collick delivered the speech at the University of Delaware’s College of Physical Education, Athletics and Recreation graduation ceremony. He was chosen as a speaker after being selected as Outstanding Alumnus of the university.

Collick is a member of the following Halls of Fame: MEAC, State of Delaware Athletics, African-American (Delaware), Delaware State University as well as being named coach of the year in the MEAC, the Henlopen Conference and from the regional corporation of Nike clinics.

After leaving Sussex Technical High School in Georgetown, as the Dean of Students and Head Football Coach, Collick would return to his high school alma mater to take those same positions at Cape Henlopen High in Lewes. Coach Collick has a history of re-establishing floundering schools and football programs by way of unifying groups of people towards common goals of excellence.

One of Coach Collick’s most gratifying accomplishments came as a result of being asked by Dr. David Robinson (interim Superintendent at the time) to take on the responsibility of overseeing the culture and climate on his return to the Cape Henlopen School District.

At the start of the year 2010 and prior to his return, the high school had been placed under academic review, as well as experiencing high elements of student discord. Once again, Collick was able to help bring and foster a sense of excellence, among students, faculty, and staff; thus in 2015, a National Blue-Ribbon Award was presented to Cape Henlopen High School, signifying the school as one of the 200 best functioning schools in the United States of America. Furthermore, Cape Henlopen High School was the only school in the State of Delaware to receive a Blue-Ribbon Award in 2015.

He is married to the former Nancy Gooch and they are parents of a daughter Dana and a son Billy, as well as grandparents of granddaughters Jaia, Ma’Kena, and Harper.