A native of Birmingham, Ala., Bill Branch was a three-year letter-winner in football and baseball. He was quarterback of the Golden Eagle football team from 1949 to 1952, and played second base while serving as the team captain of the baseball team during that stretch.

His penchant for coordinating athletic programs was also established during his time as an undergraduate when he served as student director of intramurals in 1951 and 1952.

After receiving his degree (health and physical education) in 1953, Branch spent the next 20 years in the army. He joined the army the day after graduating from Tech, and returned to Cookeville at the request of President Everett Derryberry the day after retiring from the army.

He finished his military service by heading up the Army ROTC program at Georgia Tech in Atlanta, and was commissioned a second lieutenant. During that time, he was also a freshman football coach and varsity scout for the Yellow Jackets.

He came back to Tennessee Tech as an instructor in physical education, tennis coach and assistant to then-Athletic Director Hooper Eblen. Branch coached the non-scholarship men’s and women’s tennis squads for 12 years. Among his players was his daughter, Becky.

After retiring from the athletic staff in 1990, he was coaxed out of retirement in 1993 to coach the women’s golf team, and took them to the Ohio Valley Conference championship. For that he was named OVC Coach of the Year.

As assistant athletic director, Branch coordinated facilities and game management, and played a large role in formulating plans and policies for Tech’s athletic venues.

When the Hooper Eblen Center opened in 1977, Branch was designated by President Arliss Roaden as administrator of the arena, and he established the rules, regulations and operating procedures for the 10,152-seat building. He was also chosen to manage the Indoor Tennis Center.

His experience in facilities management made him the natural choice as co-chairman of the committee to design the university’s new Fitness Center.

Branch was also involved in the creation of the annual fund-raising Fun Frolic Carnival, and developing the Golden Eagle Scramble, making it the largest golf tournament in the state.

As event coordinator, Branch coordinated several major athletic events on campus, including Tech’s 1985 NIT sellout game against Tennessee, several women’s NCAA tournament games, and the OVC basketball and baseball tournaments.

In addition to his roles with Tech athletics, Branch served two years as the executive director of the Putnam County Family YMCA in 1988 and 1989. During his time with the YMCA, he was instrumental in fund raising efforts that culminated in the building of Cookeville’s YMCA facility.