NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State University athletics community is mourning the loss of former Spartan football coach and athletics director William "Bill" Archie, who passed away on March 19.

Archie served as NSU football coach from 1961-66 and then as athletics director from 1970-84. Under his leadership, NSU won two Division II men's track championships (1973 and 1974) and 26 CIAA championships in all. He was also instrumental in forming and coaching the first NSU swim team in 1962, and he pioneered the research and designing of the pool still in use today at the school.

Archie, a Welch, West Virginia native, led West Virginia State College to the 1951 CIAA football championship, passing for 1,300 yards. He also played basketball for the Yellow Jackets. His son, Larry, later was an assistant football coach at NSU from 2003-04 and his grandson, Kyle, was a linebacker for the Spartans from 2014-17.

Bill Archie is a member of the National Association of College Directors of Athletics Hall of Fame (1987), CIAA Hall of Fame (1989), NSU Athletics Hall of Fame (2004) and Hampton Roads African American Sports Hall of Fame (2004).

A memorial service for Archie will be held on Sunday, March 27 at noon at Metropolitan Funeral Home at 7246 Granby Street, Norfolk, Virginia, 23505.