William J. Bilowus (2008) - Dr. and Mrs. Edmond J. Gicewicz Family UB Athletics Hall of Fame Inductees

William J. Bilowus

Distinguished Alumni Award
1961-65 (EdB '65, EdM '69)

Was a key member of the UB basketball team that went 19-3 his senior year, winning 13 straight and competing in the NCAA College Division Tournament.
A Lackawanna High School basketball star, he returned there after earning his master's at UB and turned the school's hoop program into the most dominant in WNY over the next 18 years of his career there.
After gaining respectability with an 11-8 start in his first season, his Steelers, over the next 17 years, fashioned a 318-46 record, winning their conference division title each year.
Has a winning percentage of .859 (329-54), the highest in WNY hoop history.
His teams won a WNY-record 76 straight games over area competition; 3 reached the #1 ranking among State large school, 1 rated #11 nationally.
He had back-to-back unbeaten (45-0) years, his 1978-79 squad won the State title; his 1984-85 team bowed in the NYS championship and won a total of 8 sectional titles and the only 3 super-sectionals in WNY.