Billy Atkins
refer to caption
Atkins in 1963
No. 29, 20, 2, 28
Position:Punter
Safety
Personal information
Born:(1934-11-19)November 19, 1934
Millport, Alabama, U.S.
Died:November 5, 1991(1991-11-05) (aged 56)
El Paso, Texas, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:196 lb (89 kg)
Career information
High school:Millport
College:Auburn
NFL Draft:1958 / Round: 5 / Pick: 59
Career history
As a player:
As a coach:
As an administrator:
Career highlights and awards
As a player
As a coach
Career AFL/NFL statistics
Punts:221
Punting yards:9,203
Punting average:41.6
Longest punt:70
Interceptions:20
Interception yards:217
Total touchdowns:1
Head coaching record
Career:44–16–2 (.726)
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

William Ellis Atkins (November 19, 1934 – November 5, 1991)[2] was an American football professional safety and punter who played for the San Francisco 49ers in the National Football League (NFL), and in the American Football League (AFL) for the Buffalo Bills, the New York Titans / Jets, and the Denver Broncos. He was an AFL All-Star in 1961. He played college football at Auburn.

Head coaching career

On January 8, 1966, Atkins was named the head coach of the Troy State Trojans football team. In 1968, he coached Troy State to an NAIA National Championship and was named the NAIA Coach of the Year. Atkins finished at Troy State with a 44–16–2 record before leaving in 1971. He is the second-most winningest coach in Troy history, only behind Larry Blakeney.

Personal life

Atkins' son, author William Ellis "Ace" Atkins Jr., also played football at Auburn and was member of the 1993 undefeated team.[3][4]

Head coaching record

Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs
Troy State Trojans (Alabama Collegiate Conference) (1966–1969)
1966 Troy State 5–51–2
1967 Troy State 8–23–01st
1968 Troy State 11–13–01stW NAIA Championship
1969 Troy State 8–1–13–01st
Troy State Trojans (Mid-South Athletic Conference / Gulf South Conference) (1970–1971)
1970 Troy State 6–4–13–23rd
1971 Troy State 6–35–1T–1st
Troy State: 44–16–218–5
Total:44–16–2
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Billy Atkins, Paige Atkins". Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved October 6, 2009.
  2. ↑ "Billy Atkins". The Pro Football Archives. Archived from the original on June 6, 2014. Retrieved October 6, 2009.
  3. ↑ Shearer, Jeff (September 20, 2020). "On the cover: From sacks to books, Auburn's Ace Atkins stands tall". Auburn Tigers. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  4. ↑ Edgemon, Erin (January 13, 2019). "Alabama native, bestselling author Ace Atkins to be honored". AL.com. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
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