February 10, 2004

By Mike Emery
Staff writer

Bill Yeoman is accustomed to standing amongst champions. The former University of Houston football coach led his teams to bowl wins and conference championships. Now, the legendary gridiron skipper will have a permanent place among Texas’ greatest sports legends.

Yeoman, now a development coordinator for UH’s Athletics department, will be in inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame Feb. 12 in Waco.

“There’s no question about it, I am very flattered,” he said modestly. “I appreciate the consideration very much.”

Yeoman served as UH’s head football coach for 25 years. In that time, he led the Cougars to 11 bowl games and four Southwest Conference championships. He also coached 60 All-Americans and is credited with developing the “triple veer option” offense.

Yeoman recalls UH’s first ever appearance in the Cotton Bowl in 1977 when he Cougars played the University of Maryland Terrapins.

“I remember driving to Dallas the day after Christmas and passing by the stadium,” he said. “I thought to myself, ‘Holy smokes! We’re going to be playing in this thing!’ The whole week was great…the experience was unforgettable. The kids came through, played real well and we won.”

Yeoman retired in 1986. He admitted that he felt the time was right to conclude a stellar coaching career, but the thing he misses most is the interaction with players.

He’ll be in good company at this year’s induction ceremony at Baylor University’s Ferrell Center. Other inductees include fellow Houstonian and former Houston Rockets basketball coach Rudy Tomjanovich, former Houston Oilers’ defensive end, Elvin Bethea and former Dallas Cowboy’s wide receiver, the late Bob Hayes.

Yeoman is honored to be included in this round of inductees and has never second-guessed his decision to come to Houston.

“It’s like they say, ‘I wasn’t born in Texas, but I got here as quick as I can,’” he said. “I remember before I came here I asked another coach what defined a good job. He said a good job is being somewhere important and where you have a chance to succeed. Winning was certainly important here, and the administration gave me a chance to succeed. I couldn’t ask for a better job at a better place.”