Bill Dotson was a two-time Iowa state champion for East Waterloo High School and an NCAA Division I and Division II national champion in 1963 and an NCAA Division I runner-up in 1962 for the University of Northern Iowa.

As a prep, he was a four-year letterman and three-time all-conference selection in wrestling while also lettering four years in baseball and two years in football. He was voted the Most Valuable Athlete at East Waterloo in 1958.

He had a 34-0-4 record at UNI while wrestling at 137 pounds, 147 pounds, 157 pounds, 167 pounds and 197 pounds. He won his two national titles and finished second at 137 pounds.

After beginning his coaching career as an assistant coach to Keith Young at Cedar Falls High School, Dotson became head coach at Dubuque High School in 1966. He also held the head coaching positions at Waterloo East and Charles City. His high school coaching record was 101-44-3.

Dotson became an assistant coach and completed his master's degree in physical education at Western State College in Colorado. He later became head coach at Northern Michigan and the University of New Mexico.

He was also a wrestling official working at the NCAA Division I and Division II level from 1964-69.