Mourning the Loss of Legend Frank Will By Gordon Englehardt Evansville Courier & Press
Frank Will’s short quips and sayings became the stuff of legend around Mater Dei High School. Mike Goebel said Will’s expressions were nicknamed “Will-isms.” “He seemed to come up with a new one every day,” Goebel said. After a big victory, Mater Dei’s football players and coaches had their own saying: “Where there’s a Will, there’s a way.”
the players' uniforms after a game. He was a handyman and equipment “Frank loved life. He was pretty bubbly,” said Goebel, who was Will’s manager. He was considered a good offensive coordinator before succeed- teacher and family man. ing him as Wildcats’ head coach in “He was a really good psychologist,” 1996. Dippel said. “He knew how to handle On the other hand, former Mater Dei people.” athletics director Joe Dippel said Will could come off as “mean” to those Will played football for the Univerwho didn’t know him. He said a few sity of Evansville, once against the University of Louisville’s Johnny Uniplayers from another school didn’t tas, later a Baltimore Colts legend. He want to play for him in an all-star game but were hugging him after it coached and taught at St. Ben's and was over. Rex Mundi before settling at Mater Dei. As an assistant at Rex Mundi, Will helped coach Bob Griese, who On another occasion, Dippel was serving as a Wildcats assistant foot- like Unitas, is a Pro Football Hall of ball coach during a reserve game in Famer. Vincennes. Standing at one end behind one of the goal posts, Will was “Frank was, putting it mildly, a throwback,” Goebel said. “He drove yelling at the officials. One of them came over to Dippel on the sidelines the team bus on game trips, he and said, “Who is that guy?” washed and cared for the uniforms, Dippel said, “He’s the bus driver.” he laundered towels. Frank had his The official said, “Get him off the sons drive his truck around the practice field taking out and picking ups field.” pads and equipment.” Will wore many hats. Not only was he head football coach, he was inGoebel said Will was a caring and deed the bus driver. He laundered compassionate man.
First Trip to State Will guided Mater Dei to its first Class 2A state championship game appearance in 1994 and first unbeaten regular season in '84. Under his guidance, the Wildcats won seven sectional titles, four regionals and one semistate. “Not only coach Will was a great coach, he was a great man,” said Jeff McDurmon, who was a running back, linebacker and team captain on the ’94 team. “He coached hard and expected us to play hard. Coach had a way with words that were comical with a point. One of my favorite quotes from coach when addressing the team was ‘You kids have potential, which means you are not very good!' Now let’s get back to work. “He then led us to a state football appearance at the RCA Dome. He said he took care of his players like they were his own children. “He was very, very loyal,” Dippel said. He wasn’t afraid to delegate responsibility to his assistants.
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