Bill O'Neill

Bill O'Neill

Bill O'Neill, legendary coach and athletics administrator at Missouri State University for nearly four decades, died early Friday, Oct. 24, 2014, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Born January 25, 1943, Coach O'Neill was 71, having worked in MSU athletics from 1970 until his retirement in 2008.

A fixture on the football coaching staff for 16 years on the staffs of head coaches Don Cross and Rich Johanningmeier, O'Neill guided some of the Bears' most heralded gridders as he served as offensive line coach/coordinator for six seasons followed by ten years as defensive line coach/coordinator. He inspired a special level of commitment from his players as he pushed them to maximize their abilities on the football field, in the classroom and in life. He accepted nothing less than the best his student-athletes had to give, and then stood behind them as their efforts brought them success. His straight-talking, no-nonsense manner was cherished by his players as he pushed them to ever-great heights. The commitment and leadership he put into his coaching was returned to him as his charges became close, life-long friends. When his illness worsened in the past year, a large number of his former players contributed the funds for a major enhancement to the renovation of Robert W. Plaster Stadium at MSU in the form of the Bill O'Neill Gateway at the newly-configured north entrance to the stadium. Coach O'Neill was able to be present at the dedication of the new entrance Sept. 13, 2014. The Bill O'Neill Endowed Athletics Scholarship and the annual Bill O'Neill Golf Tournament for football alumni were established at his retirement. Bill was inducted into the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009.

Bill's coaching tenure included 19 all-conference first team selections of his charges, and the top performers from his ranks were four players - offensive tackle Tom Mullen, defensive tackle Dennis Heim, linebacker Mike Murphy and defensive end Darrin Newbold - who earned multiple all-conference first team selections, All-America honors and eventual participation in professional football.

He also served as Assistant and later Associate Director of Athletics from 1976 until his retirement, and his efforts contributed significant benefits to every facet of the administration of all MSU men's and women's sports. He was instrumental in fund-raising, event management, sports supervision, facilities, academic support and many other areas, and no task was too big or too small for him to tackle. And, at the core, the development and well-being of thousands of MSU student athletes was always his primary focus.

In addition to his family, football and MSU, Bill's long-time passion was golf. He was a fixture at multiple country clubs in Springfield and Phoenix, with a long list of playing pals whose association he treasured. One of his great joys was returning to the links early in 2014 during his illness to renew those friendships.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers. He is survived by his loving wife of 46 years, Ina; daughter Jamie, son Lance and his wife Kay, and three beloved granddaughters, Kennedy, Brooklyn and Bailee, all of Springfield. He is also survived by twin sister Pat Nadherny of Golden, Mo., and brother Glenn O'Neill of Springfield.

A native of Chicago, Ill., Bill attended Illinois State University and was the football Redbirds' starting center before his ISU graduation in 1964. He stayed at ISU as a graduate assistant and assistant coach in football and wrestling, receiving his master's degree from ISU in 1966. He assisted in football and wrestling for one year at University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse before coming to Springfield in 1970. Bill received his doctorate in physiology from the University of Northern Colorado in 1973.

A prayer service will be held on Monday, October 27, at 6:30 pm at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home, 1947 E Seminole in Springfield, followed by a visitation from 7-8 pm. A funeral mass will be held on Tuesday, October 28, at 10 am at St. Agnes Cathedral, 533 S Jefferson.

A celebration of Bill's life will be held at Millwood Country Club Tuesday immediately following the funeral.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests friends consider donations to the charity of their choice, or to the Bill O'Neill Endowed Athletics Scholarship at Missouri State University; the Ed Struck and Carl D. Heldt Endowed Scholarship at Illinois State University, or the St. Agnes Building Fund.

Many thanks to Dr. Leo Shunykov and his staff from Central Care Center in Bolivar, Missouri. His expertise in oncology gave my husband another beautiful nine months of quality life to enjoy with friends and family. We will never forget the compassion that each of the nurses and physician assistants demonstrated each time they cared for my husband. It was truly a miracle.