Legendary Leaders: Coach Bill Holbrook

Coach Bill Holbrook

Former BHS Football & Wrestling Coach Had a Big Impact

by Mike Wilt

It is March 24, 1945. Not knowing the end of fighting in the European theatre is only six weeks away, the Allies launch Operation Varsity – an airborne attack on Nazi Germany involving over 16,000 paratroopers and several thousand aircraft. One of the paratroopers who drops into enemy territory is 20-year-old Bill Holbrook of the U.S. Army’s 17th Airborne Division. He is a long way from his home in Three Rivers, Texas. He’s also a long way from his future home in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.

The son of a Baptist preacher and carpenter, Holbrook was one of twelve children who grew up in a tiny town 75 miles south of San Antonio. After marrying a hometown girl at 18, Holbrook joined the Army in 1942. He had no way of knowing that three years later he would be part of history. Operation Varsity was the largest airborne operation that was conducted on one day in one location. He also didn’t know that he would still be in Europe for several months after Germany surrendered. However, his time overseas would lead him to America’s heartland.

Following the fall of Nazi Germany, General Dwight D. Eisenhower ordered that U.S. military divisions form their own football teams with games to be played in various soccer stadiums. Holbrook was a tight end on a team comprised of former and future players from both college and the NFL. Despite being the only high school player on his team, the muscular Holbrook was one of three to play in an all-star game during which he scored a touchdown.

Holbrook eventually returned home to his wife, Mary, and attended SMU in Dallas. However, football led him to the University of Tulsa as a student, and football led him to Bartlesville’s College High School (BHS today) as a coach. In 1950, Holbrook became an assistant under Burl Stidham. In December 1961, he was named head coach of the Wildcats. Two years later, he earned Oklahoma 7 Conference Coach of the Year honors.

After the opening of a second high school across town, Holbrook was tapped as head football coach and athletic director for Sooner High School (Madison Middle School today) in 1968.

“He was a lot of fun to play for,” said Washington County Commissioner Mike Dunlap who was an offensive lineman under Holbrook from 1968 to 1970. “We all had a lot of respect for him. It’s difficult to put into words. Just the way he carried himself. It was a different time back then.”

Indeed. The handsome Holbrook always wore a gold sports coat, tie, and fedora on game night. But he was also a methodical, innovative coach, especially when it came to defense. In 1971, Holbrook’s Sooner Spartans battled top-ranked Booker T. Washington at a crowded Custer Stadium. The Hornets eked out a 12-7 win, and went on to capture the state title. Years later, Holbrook met a man who was a student manager on the opposing sideline that night. He told Holbrook how impressed the BTW coaches were with the Spartans’ defense and the program in general.

Holbrook is also credited with starting the high school wrestling program in 1962. To generate support, he brought to town OSU’s wrestling great and coach Myron Roderick. Three short years later, Col-Hi took first place at the distinguished Tulsa Edison tournament.

Today, the 96-year-old Holbrook lives in a log cabin in Leakey, Texas, northwest of San Antonio. Mary, his beloved wife of 72 years, passed away about six years ago. Holbrook still enjoys hunting and occasionally guides hunts for his nephew nearby. Coach Holbrook is now a long way from his former home, but the small town Texan left a big impact on Bartlesville sports.