Bill McNiel, a native of Cedar Rapids, became Jefferson's fourth head wrestling coach in 1967. He graduated from Franklin High School in 1957. He went to the state tournament four times placing third at 120 lbs in 1957. Upon graduation, Bill enrolled at Iowa State Teachers College (now UNI), where he wrestled at 123 lbs. In 1960 he qualified for the NCAA tournament. He graduated from ISTC with a degree in physical education. Bill's first teaching assignment was in Harlan in the fall of 1961.His wrestling squads made steady improvement during his six year stay, finishing fourth in 1965 and first in 1966. While there, he coached eleven state place winners including two seconds, five thirds, and four fourth place finishers. He left Harlan in 1966 to pursue his master's degree at Wayne State College in Nebraska. While there, Bill taught physical education and coached the school's wrestling team guiding them to a 12-3 season and the conference championship. Bill came to Jefferson in 1967, and the eleven-year journey he embarked on finished up as the most highly successful venture J-Hawk wrestling has seen. Eight seasons Bill's teams finished in the top 8 in the state, and 6 of those teams were 4th or better. His teams were conference champions six times and second three times. There were three years when the J-Hawks were unstoppable under McNiel. They fashioned a 34-0 dual meet mark from 1972-1974. His 1972 squad was second in class 3A and the 1973 and 1974 teams were state champions. Bill took 22 wrestlers to state in those 3 years alone, and amazingly half of them placed 3rd or higher. Bill closed out his career at Jefferson in 1978 with a dual record of 105-24-1. He coached 8 individual state champions and had 29 other place winners. It is no surprise Bill was inducted into the Iowa High School Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame in 1981, and into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1998. Bill's athletes will tell you, unlike some coaches, he did not try motivating his troops with a lot of showmanship, bravado, or testosterone. Conversely, he provided them with equal doses of logic and humor. His technical knowledge of the sport, along with his adept psychology of athletes, proved a winning combination. He made everyone associated with his team feel special and important with his easy-going, fun style. Today he continues to live on First Avenue near Cleveland and enjoys retirement with Judy, his wife of more than five decades. He can be found actively pursuing his hobbies, which include bowling, golfing, hunting, and fishing.