Bill Gifford started wrestling at Valley Stream (NY) Memorial Jr. High in 1967, and did his high school wrestling for Sparta H.S. in New Jersey. Bill went on to Springfield College, (MA), where he majored in Phys. Ed., was a 4 yr varsity wrestler, a 3x placer at the NEIWA Championships, and competed in the D-II NCAA Championships once. He was an assistant coach at Springfield under the legendary Coach Doug Parker in 1975-76. Following his years at Springfield, he wrestled for the “Athletes-in-Action” (one of the top amateur club teams in the nation) from 1976 – 1980. During those years Bill placed in the top ten at the National AAU championships in the “149.5 lb. wt. class” three times, qualifying for the USA Team Training Camp in freestyle (2x) and Greco-Roman (1x). Overall, his record against collegiate and amateur-level competition was 154-49-4.

Bill worked for Campus Crusade for Christ from 1976 – 1996, and coached high school wrestling for 16 of those years. He has helped coach H.S. wrestlers to state championships in three states (N.J., TN, and AZ), and helped develop several NCAA All-Americans. In 1996 he moved to Georgia, where he worked in the local church for eight years as “Minister to Families”, and spent one year with The Salvation Army.

In 2005 Bill followed the call of God to work for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He’s been involved with the sport of wrestling since 1967, has a Master of Divinity, and is currently the director of FCA Wrestling in Georgia. He has been married to Kay Taylor Gifford since August, 1978.

Ron Domanico – Board Member