William W. Cobey

For the North Carolina politician, see Bill Cobey.

William Wilfred Cobey (March 12, 1908 – April 20, 1998) was an American university administrator. He served as the athletic director at the University of Maryland from 1956 to 1969.

A native of Quincy, Florida, Cobey attended the University of Maryland where he played on the freshman lacrosse team. He was a member of the Kappa Alpha Order. Cobey graduated with an A.B. from the College of Arts and Sciences in 1930.[1] The University of Maryland appointed Cobey, former graduate manager, as athletic director in 1956, replacing Jim Tatum.[2] In 1965, he fired Tom Nugent as football coach upon the conclusion of his five-year contract with a disappointing 4–6 season.[3] He presided over the hiring of baseball coach Elton "Jack" Jackson in 1960,[4] and football coaches Lou Saban in 1966,[5] and Bob Ward in 1967.[6] He retired as athletic director on June 30, 1968.[7] Cobey was succeeded by Maryland track coach Jim Kehoe.[8]

Cobey died on April 20, 1998, at his home in University Park, Maryland, at the age of 90.[9] He was inducted into the University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame in 1984.[10] His son, William W. Cobey, Jr., served as athletic director at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and a North Carolina Representative in the United States Congress from 1985 to 1987.[11][12]

References

  1. ^ Reveille, p. 42, University of Maryland, 1930.
  2. ^ Maryland Picks Mont Grid Coach, The Milwaukee Sentinel, January 18, 1956.
  3. ^ Maryland Fire Football Coach, The Pittsburgh Press, December 10, 1965.
  4. ^ Baltimorean Named Coach Of Terp Baseball Team, The Sun, August 7, 1960.
  5. ^ Saban Signs 4-Year Contract To Coach Maryland, The Sun, January 4, 1966.
  6. ^ Bob Ward Reportedly New Maryland Coach, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, December 30, 1967.
  7. ^ Cobey To Retire, The Hartford Courant, November 5, 1968.
  8. ^ TRACK COACH KEHOE APPOINTED MARYLAND ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, The Sun, February 11, 1968.
  9. ^ AL suspends Johnson for throwing at Lofton, The Washington Times, April 22, 1998.
  10. ^ All-Time Inductees, University of Maryland, retrieved October 12, 2011.
  11. ^ Cobey denies wish for Maryland post, Star-News, August 8, 1980.
  12. ^ COBEY, William Wilfred, Jr., (1939 - ), Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, retrieved October 10, 2011.