William Wilbur Wirtz (June 25, 1887 – June 14, 1965) was a professor of foreign languages who also served as athletic director at Northern Illinois University. He was the head football coach at NIU from 1910 to 1916, compiling a record of 33–17–9. Wirtz was also the head basketball coach at Northern Illinois from 1910 to 1918 and the head baseball coach at the school from 1912 to 1917. Wirtz grew up in

Sandwich, Illinois Sandwich is a city in DeKalb and Kendall counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. Its population was 7,421 at the 2010 census and 7,221 at the 2020 census. History The town's history is tied to politician "Long John" Wentworth and his efforts t ...

and began his teaching career at age 19. He joined the faculty of Northern Illinois University in the early days of the school, then known as Northern Illinois State Normal School. He was on NIU's governing board from 1949 to 1953, serving as chairman for the last two years. He also served on the Illinois Teachers College Board. Wirtz Hall on the NIU campus was named after him. The building was the original home of the NIU College of Business. Groundbreaking for Wirtz Hall took place in 1962, and the dedication ceremony was held in 1965 five months after Wirtz's death. Wirtz married Alfa Belle White and had three daughters, Marion, Frances and Kathryn, and two sons, Robert and William Willard. His son W. Willard Wirtz went on to serve as the

Secretary of Labor The United States Secretary of Labor is a member of the Cabinet of the United States, and as the head of the United States Department of Labor, controls the department, and enforces and suggests laws involving unions, the workplace, and all ot ...

between 1962 and 1969 under John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. He died on June 14, 1965, at the age of 77.

Head coaching record

Football

References

External links

* 1887 births 1965 deaths Northern Illinois University faculty Northern Illinois Huskies baseball coaches Northern Illinois Huskies football coaches Northern Illinois Huskies men's basketball coaches People from Sandwich, Illinois Basketball coaches from Illinois Sportspeople from Kendall County, Illinois {{1910s-collegefootball-coach-stub