Bill Doba, who guided the WSU Cougars from 2003 until 2007 has died. He was 85.
Doba was 10 and 3 in his first year as Cougar head coach. He would share coach of the year honors that season with Pete Carroll, then with USC.
Doba would compile a 30 win 29 loss record during his tenor as HC. That included 3 Apple Cup victories over the Huskies.
1 comment:
Great post Mike. Thank you for reminding what a great coach he was for the team. Former Washington State University football coach Bill Doba was universally respected as a "true gentleman of the game," a brilliant defensive mind, and a deeply compassionate mentor. Many players remember him as more than a coach. Former safety Erik Coleman noted that Doba shaped him "not just as a football player, but as a man," by demanding accountability, toughness, and character. Other players, like Ron Childs, recall him stepping in as a vital father figure for young men who didn't have one at home. Doba was legendary for his humility and how he treated people. When he was let go in 2007, his immediate reaction wasn't anger or bitterness; instead, he looked at his assistant and quietly apologized, feeling as though he had let others down, prompting his staff to simply call him "a good man." Long before becoming head coach, Doba cemented his legacy at WSU by designing the iconic 1994 "Palouse Posse" defense. His brilliant defensive schemes helped power the Cougars to two historic Rose Bowl appearances under Mike Price. In his very first season as head coach, he won more games than any first-year coach in WSU history, capping off a 10-win season with a thrilling, unforgettable upset over No. 5 Texas in the Holiday Bowl. Cougar fans always loved Doba’s passion for the cross-state rivalry. He kept a year-round Apple Cup countdown clock in the locker room and won three out of his five rivalry games as head coach (2004, 2005, and 2007), ensuring his players always went into the game with a fierce edge.
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