Bill Koll

Who is Bill Koll?

Bill Koll was an American wrestler at Iowa State Teachers College and wrestling coach, most notably at his alma mater and for the Penn State Nittany Lions wrestling team. As a wrestler Koll was undefeated and won three straight NCAA championships, He was twice voted outstanding wrestler at the national tournament, the first wrestler to achieve this honor. Koll competed for the U.S. at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London and place fifth in the freestyle competition. As a coach Koll led Penn State for 14 seasons, which included unbeaten dual meet campaigns in 1967, '70, '71, '72 and '74.

Koll's college career was interrupted by World War II, during which he participated in the Normandy landings and earned a Bronze Star. Koll is a member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and the father of Rob Koll, the head wrestling coach at Cornell University.