70 former Harriton Wrestlers gathered on December 4, at the Great American Pub in Conshohocken – to honor their coach, Bill Zimmerman. Known affectionately as “Mr. Z.,” Zimmerman racked up 336 wins while he helmed the Rams wrestling program from 1961 to 1994.
“Z” was a popular Phys. Ed. Teacher. He also coached the Rams Football team for two seasons (1967 and 1968), but was somewhat less successful in that endeavor, than as a wrestling coach.
David Halpern, Mike Gretz and Scott Satell all wrestled for Zimmerman. They organized the event for the purpose of announcing the creation of the Spirit Scholarship Award in Zimmerman’s honor.
Bonnie Squires wrote in the Main Line Times – Mr. Z only coached each of the wrestlers for the three years when they were on the team, but the lessons they learned from him have lasted a lifetime. A very humble Mr. Z was delighted and choked up when 70 of his former student-wrestlers showed up on Saturday, December 4, at a tribute dinner in his honor at the Great American Pub in Conshohocken. And the wrestlers had flown in and driven in from around the country, not just those who remained in the western suburbs. The coach is a very humble guy, and he could not believe that so many of his former student-athletes would go out of their way to pay tribute to him – and to donate to a scholarship fund in his honor.
Mr Z was my gym and health teacher. He was good people and told me no pain,no gain when I started lifting heavy weights in 1972 at the YMCA in Ardmore long gone.. He was ahead of his time against smoking which was allowed on campus in those days.He did say to me one day Michael you need a haircut 🤣
His daughter taught my kids at Harriton. She was very nice and I was happy to hear her Dad was doing well.
My very best regards to him for many more healthy years
Z was my line coach on Harriton’s 1963-1965 football teams. Lousy teams, but he was inspirational and taught us many valuable life lessons. Had drinks with him and three or four ex-teammates about five years ago and was happy to see him healthy and as enthusiastic about life, sports, kids, the Marines, etc., as ever.. An all around good guy.
Congrats to one of the good guys! He was my line coach for the football team in ’60 and ’61, only one one game, ’61, but admired his desire to help the players. I graduated in ’62.
So great to be part of honoring the legendary Bill Zimmerman. His legacy will be secured by the LMTSF which will award two students every year for the next 50 years with the Bill Zimmerman Spirit scholarship! Awesome honor for an awesome individual!! Love you coach Z!!
A great coach and person. Wish I could have performed a little better for him. All the best, Coach Z!!
It was a great night celebrating a great coach, mentor and role model. Z is the man!
Good to see you Mr.Zzzzzz,
Mr. Doughty at Welsh Valley and Mr. Z at Harriton put together a phenomenal wrestling program plus phys ed.!
Doughhty was a great coach, and Zimmerman was known to attribute part of his success to him. Doughty even taught me how to wrestle. By the way, my sister had him for Biology and thought he was a really good teacher.
I had him in Biology and agree….a great teacher!
Mr Doughty turns 90 this year as well. He attended the celebration and was recognized at the event – he and his wife are both doing great