Football Coach. A head coach at two major colleges, he was also a longtime assistant at the college and professional level. Raised in Petersburg, Virginia, he was an All-State tackle at Petersburg High School then earned All-American honors playing the same position at the College of William and Mary under Coach Carl Voyles. Drafted by the Detroit Lions after earning his degree in 1943, he instead joined the US Navy where he served as a Pharmacist's Mate during World War II. After leaving the Navy, Bass began his coaching career as an assistant at his alma mater; over roughly 60 years on the sidelines he served at the University of North Carolina, the University of Richmond, with the Washington Redskins and the Buffalo Bills of the NFL and the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL, and elsewhere. As head coach at William and Mary in 1951 and 1952 he guided the Indians to 11 wins and 8 losses, while in the top job at the University of South Carolina between 1961 and 1965 he saw the Gamecocks post 17 wins, 29 losses, and 4 ties, though three of the victories were over arch-rival Clemson. In the late 1960s he led the Montreal Beavers of the Continental League and in 1974 was boss of the Birmingham Vulcans in the short-lived World Football League. Between 1982 and his 2004 retirement Bass held his final two coaching jobs, both as assistant to his old South Carolina quarterback Dan Reeves, first with the Denver Broncos, and lastly for the Atlanta Falcons. Coach Bass was named to the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 1981 and to the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame in 1992. He lived his final years near Columbia, South Carolina, and died of age related complications. The strength and conditioning facility at the University of South Carolina carries his name.
Football Coach. A head coach at two major colleges, he was also a longtime assistant at the college and professional level. Raised in Petersburg, Virginia, he was an All-State tackle at Petersburg High School then earned All-American honors playing the same position at the College of William and Mary under Coach Carl Voyles. Drafted by the Detroit Lions after earning his degree in 1943, he instead joined the US Navy where he served as a Pharmacist's Mate during World War II. After leaving the Navy, Bass began his coaching career as an assistant at his alma mater; over roughly 60 years on the sidelines he served at the University of North Carolina, the University of Richmond, with the Washington Redskins and the Buffalo Bills of the NFL and the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL, and elsewhere. As head coach at William and Mary in 1951 and 1952 he guided the Indians to 11 wins and 8 losses, while in the top job at the University of South Carolina between 1961 and 1965 he saw the Gamecocks post 17 wins, 29 losses, and 4 ties, though three of the victories were over arch-rival Clemson. In the late 1960s he led the Montreal Beavers of the Continental League and in 1974 was boss of the Birmingham Vulcans in the short-lived World Football League. Between 1982 and his 2004 retirement Bass held his final two coaching jobs, both as assistant to his old South Carolina quarterback Dan Reeves, first with the Denver Broncos, and lastly for the Atlanta Falcons. Coach Bass was named to the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 1981 and to the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame in 1992. He lived his final years near Columbia, South Carolina, and died of age related complications. The strength and conditioning facility at the University of South Carolina carries his name.
Bio by: Bob Hufford
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