This was a day I’ve kind of dreaded in the back of my mind since we lost Coach Lewis. Bill Yeoman was pretty much my hero growing up, Aside from God, family, and friends, nothing meant more to me than UH football, and he was its embodiment. Never missed his Sunday show. He was one of the greatest college coaches ever. I remember DCTF did a ranking of all-time Texas coaches based on a point system about a decade ago, and Coach Yeoman finished 2nd behind DKR. Think about how amazing that is given our resources compared to UT, A&M, and others. He was inventive, far-sighted, a fierce competitor, and an immensely good man. He was as much or more to us than DKR to Texas or Bear to Alabama, and he leaves a legacy that will never be surpassed. Godspeed, Coach.
RIP Coach Yeoman. Thanks for all the great memories.
Oh please
I would not be a COOG if it had not been for Coach. He was one of my heroes. He taught me more about football strategy than any coach I ever had. I have so many memories about him. One I will never forget was when we played Colorado in the BlueBonnet bowl. The Buffs were big and tough. We were having a tough time with their all -american tackle and right after halftime started with is having the ball, A chinese fire drill breaks out with our line and backs. The outcome was the ALL-American tackle was taken out of the game. Next Day Coach shows the play where our tight end Riley Odoms ran all the way across the field and then came storming back to blindside the tackle. Coaches comment was “We just wanted to show him we played football too”. I will always admire Coach Yeoman. May he rest in Peace.
I tip my hat to him.
Rest in peace, coach. I met him in person and never forgot his gesture. He was sitting, but when I approached, he stood up and shook my hands. Definitely a teachable moment for me that I will never forget. Enjoy heaven coach.
Condolences to Coach Yeoman’s family. May they find peace.
We all know CBY’s excellence in playing and coaching football. IMO, there are very, very few equals.
Bill (and AJ, and the family) were absolute stalwart members of my old church back in Houston, where I am certain the services will be held. There was never a finer Christian man by example…
We’ve lost one of the great college coaches in history. Yeoman was not only a fine person, but an innovative head coach. His offense broke so many records, and gave birth to other powerful offenses, as well. At one point, many, many high schools in the United States were running what was called the Houston Veer. And of course, during our first few years in the Southwest Conference, coach Yeoman showed the other so-called big boys in the state that the Coogs would hand them their a** if we were allowed to compete on an even playing field.
He was a Hall of Famer, a legend, and I’ll always be so thankful for his contributions to our university. Condolences to those close to him, and bless you, Coach Yeoman.
What a great man. He made me proud to be a Cougar. There will never be another like him.
Now, i am going to feel sad all day…
I do hope that the University does some kind of memoriam for him before the first home game. it would also be nice if the football team would dedicate the season to him and wear a patch, maybe a black circle with BY in white, on their uniforms.
Like many others, Coach is the reason I became a Cougar. He changed the face of college football both on the field (veer) and off the field (integration) and before the Oilers, Rockets and Astros, being proud of Houston was to be a Cougar.
Coach never missed a beat. Upon meeting my daughter Melanie, the first thing he said to her was “you must look like your mother”.
More than just a few times, I’d drop by his office at the AD to say hello to him (who still hangs around the office on a daily basis after retiring? No one!) and if time permitted he’d let me sit for a chat and was not always about football. The problems he faced with integration were well known and some not so well known, particularly when it came to scheduling SEC teams. They did not want to play us but felt compelled to after we were beating everyone else so as not to look like they they were ducking us, (that’s not the poultry he mentioned) and I digress.
Coach Yeoman changed things and all for the better. He will be missed. Where would be without him?!
RIP Coach
Photo credit: coogcheese
I knew this day would come and it still is so sad nonetheless. I have such wonderful memories of Cougar football from Coach’s years as head coach. Rest with the angels dear man.
R.I.P. to a legend. It’s too bad he had already been retired for 4 years by the time I was born. I would have loved to seen those coog teams in action.
God bless our dear Coach Bill Yoeman and his family.He is a UH Icon that will be sorely missed!
A little nice story. During a basketball game (National TV) during the PSJ days there was a call by an official that did not go over well in student section. We began a chant of B.S.!!!
For some reason at that particular time BY was sitting towards the top (obviously not his normal seat).
He quickly got out of his seat. Raised two arms out and softly said “No No” in the direction of the students.
That is what I remember about him.
Loved Coach Yeoman. When we held our Cougarfest Golf tournament in Dallas, he would always come and pump everybody up. He made sure his golf team was loaded so he would finish at the top. He usually won the putting contest as well. Great man, great competitor who loved our University. We were fortunate to have him.
RIP Coach
We were so fortunate in the late '70’s and early '80’s to have these legends on campus!