Bill Gifford
· Native of Valley Stream, NY
· 1971 graduate of Sparta High School (Sparta Township, NJ)
· 1976 graduate of Springfield College (MA) (B.S. Physical Education)
· 4 year standout (1972-76) for the NCAA Division II powerhouse Springfield College under the tutelage of renowned NWHOF coach Doug Parker
· Logged an impressive 154-48-4 collegiate record, placing 3rd, 4th and 3rd in consecutive years at the prestigious New England Championships
· Member of the highly competitive Athletes in Action (AIA) wrestling team from 1976-80 where he competed against elite international club and university squads
· In 1978 placed 8th in the country in Greco Roman and 10th in Freestyle (68 kg)
· In 1979 placed 10th in USA Freestyle championships, qualifying to attend Team USA training camps in Chicago, IL and Murfreesboro, TN
· Post competition, worked for high school ministry group Student Venture (1980-88), holding assistant coaching positions in Hixon, TN and Phoenix, AZ
· Attended International School of Theology (San Bernadino, CA) from 1989-1995, receiving his Master of Divinity degree while serving as an assistant and head wrestling coach at the high school level
· Joined the staff of Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), serving as Gwinnett County (GA) Director, and working predominately with wrestling coaches and wrestlers organized and operated the first FCA wrestling camp in the nation (2006)
· Bill’s love of the ministry and wrestling led him to start the first wrestling sport-specific ministry within the FCA
· Serves as a driving force in the expansion of FCA Wrestling across the country
· Following his lead, FCA hired a national director specifically for wrestling with FCA Wrestling expanding to 13 states
· Currently in 15th year as Director of FCA Wrestling Georgia
· Resides in Gainesville, GA
· Wife, Kay; adult children: Will, Taylor, Owen, Curt
Awards:
Year
2023
|
Award
Lifetime Service to Wrestling
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Chapter/Region
Georgia
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Our Mission: To honor the sport of wrestling by preserving its history, recognizing extraordinary individual achievements, and inspiring future generations