Bill Yoast

Bill Yoast (2008)

William "Bill" Yoast (* 16th November 1924 in Florence, Alabama ; † 23. May 2019 in Springfield, Virginia ) was an American high school - football - coach the football team at TC Williams High School in Alexandria , Virginia . In this capacity he was portrayed in the film Against All Rule from 2000 by the actor Will Patton .

Life

Yoast grew up in Florence, Alabama. After serving in the United States Air Force for three years , he went to Georgia Military College and later to Mercer University . There he belonged to the student union Sigma Nu . He completed his studies with a Bachelor of Arts as a physical education teacher . He later earned a Masters from George Peabody College .

After graduating from high school and college as a football player, he decided to become a football coach. He worked in Sparta and Roswell , Georgia, and eventually Alexandria, Virginia. There he spent several decades and was very successful.

In 1990 he retired. He had four daughters and seven grandchildren. His daughter Sheryl assisted her father during his coaching days. She died of heart disease in 1996 at the age of 34.

Biography and film adaptation

Yoast wrote the book Remember This Titan about his experience as a football coach . The 1971 season at TC Williams High School described therein became the basis for the script for the film Against Any Rule from 2000. After the introduction of multiracial schools in the United States, which had been brought about by the courts, the previously separate football teams were also merged in 1971. Yoast, previously coaching the high school team, was assistant to the new black head coach, Herman Boone . The team dominated the season and won the state title and second place in the national ranking.