Bill Burgess obit

Former JSU football coach Bill Burgess dies

 

He was not on the list.

JACKSONVILLE, Ala. (WBRC) - Bill Burgess, legendary Jacksonville State football coach who coached at JSU for 12 seasons, has passed away.

His son, Rick Burgess of the “Rick and Bubba Show”, stated the news on Instagram and said that his dad died early Wednesday morning.

Bill Burgess was 82.

He served as the head football coach at Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama, for 12 seasons, from 1985 until 1996, compiling a record of 84–49–4. In 1992, he led his team to a national title, winning the NCAA Division II Football Championship.

A native of Birmingham, Alabama, Burgess played fullback in college for the Auburn Tigers and earned an athletic letter for the 1962 season under head coach Ralph Jordan. In 2011, he was inducted into the Division II Hall of Fame. In 2019, he was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. He was the father of Rick and Greg Burgess from the nationally syndicated Rick and Bubba radio show.

Burgess died in Birmingham, Alabama on December 13, 2023, at the age of 82.

 

Coaching career (HC unless noted)

1966–1970            Woodlawn HS (AL)

1971–1984            Oxford HS (AL)

1985–1996            Jacksonville State

Head coaching record

Overall 84–49–4 (college)

127–68–5 (high school)

Tournaments            12–4 (NCAA D-II playoffs)

Accomplishments and honors

Championships

1 NCAA Division II (1992)

4 GSC (1988–1989, 1991–1992)