William W. Cobey
Encyclopedia
William Wilfred Cobey was an American university administrator. He served as the athletic director
at the University of Maryland
from 1956 to 1969.
A native of Quincy, Florida
, Cobey attended the University of Maryland
where he played on the freshman lacrosse team. He was a member of the Kappa Alpha Order
. Cobey graduated with an A.B. from the College of Arts and Sciences in 1930. The University of Maryland appointed Cobey, former graduate manager, as athletic director in 1956 in replacement of Jim Tatum
. In 1965, he fired Tom Nugent
as football coach upon the conclusion of his five-year contract with a disappointing 4–6 season. He presided over the hiring of baseball coach Elton "Jack" Jackson in 1960, and football coaches Lou Saban
in 1966, and Bob Ward in 1967. He retired as athletic director on June 30, 1968. Cobey was succeeded by Maryland track coach Jim Kehoe
.
Cobey died on April 20, 1998 at his home in University Park, Maryland
at the age of 90. He was inducted into the University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame
in 1984. His son, William W. Cobey, Jr.
, served as athletic director at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and a North Carolina Representative in the United States Congress
from 1985 to 1987.
Athletic director
An athletic director is an administrator at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, who oversees the work of coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic programs...
at the University of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
from 1956 to 1969.
A native of Quincy, Florida
Quincy, Florida
Quincy is a city in Gadsden County, Florida, United States. The population was 6,982 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 6,975...
, Cobey attended the University of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
where he played on the freshman lacrosse team. He was a member of the Kappa Alpha Order
Kappa Alpha Order
Kappa Alpha Order is a social fraternity and fraternal order. Kappa Alpha Order has 124 active chapters, 3 provisional chapters, and 2 commissions...
. Cobey graduated with an A.B. from the College of Arts and Sciences in 1930. The University of Maryland appointed Cobey, former graduate manager, as athletic director in 1956 in replacement of Jim Tatum
Jim Tatum
James M. "Big Jim" Tatum was an American football and baseball player and coach. Tatum served as the head football coach at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , the University of Oklahoma , and the University of Maryland, College Park , compiling a career college football record of...
. In 1965, he fired Tom Nugent
Tom Nugent
Thomas N. "Tom" Nugent was an American college football coach and innovator, sportscaster, public relations man. He served as the head football coach at the Virginia Military Institute, Florida State University, and the University of Maryland. His career record was 89–80–3...
as football coach upon the conclusion of his five-year contract with a disappointing 4–6 season. He presided over the hiring of baseball coach Elton "Jack" Jackson in 1960, and football coaches Lou Saban
Lou Saban
Louis Henry Saban was an American football player and coach. Saban played for Indiana University in college and as a pro for the Cleveland Browns of the All-America Football Conference...
in 1966, and Bob Ward in 1967. He retired as athletic director on June 30, 1968. Cobey was succeeded by Maryland track coach Jim Kehoe
Jim Kehoe
James Henry Kehoe, Jr. was an American athletics coach and university administrator. He served as the athletic director at the University of Maryland from 1969 to 1978, during which time he was responsible for the hiring of future Hall of Fame coaches Lefty Driesell, Jerry Claiborne, Bud...
.
Cobey died on April 20, 1998 at his home in University Park, Maryland
University Park, Maryland
University Park is a town in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 2,318 at the 2000 census.-Geography:University Park is located at ....
at the age of 90. He was inducted into the University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame
University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame
The University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame was established in 1982 by the M Club Foundation to honor student-athletes, coaches, and administrators who made significant contributions to athletics at the University of Maryland...
in 1984. His son, William W. Cobey, Jr.
Bill Cobey
William Wilfred Cobey, Jr. is a former one-term Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from North Carolina....
, served as athletic director at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and a North Carolina Representative in the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
from 1985 to 1987.