UB Mourns the Passing of All-Time Winningest Football Coach Bill Dando
2/17/2022 1:01:00 PM | Football
BUFFALO, NY – Bill Dando, the winningest football coach in University at Buffalo history, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 89. Dando coached the Bulls for 13 seasons, compiling a program-best 59 wins from 1977-1989.
In 1977, the UB football team was reinstated after the program was dropped following the 1970 season due to expenses and the campus' political climate. It was Dando who built UB's football program from scratch through a period of great transition, creating the base for the school's rise to FBS.
Over his career, Dando coached 12 All-Americans and 16 ECAC All-Stars, including two Upstate New York Football Conference Players of the Year. His best seasons were in 1983 when the Bulls finished 8-2 and in 1986 when the team went 9-2 for the second most single season wins in program history. The Bulls finished 1986 ranked 20th in the nation.
A native of Gordon, PA, Dando attended the University of San Francisco where he played football for two years before the program was disbanded. He then spent two years in the Marines playing service ball before finishing his career at the University of Detroit.
Dando began his coaching career as an assistant at John Carroll University from 1960-63. In 1964, he was promoted to head coach of the Blue Streaks and led the team to a 4-4 record, including a 4-1 mark in conference play. He served as linebackers coach at SMU in 1965 before heading to Western New York.
Dando was an assistant coach for four seasons under Doc Ulrich (1966-68) and Bob Deming (1969-70) before the program was initially dropped.
Dando was inducted into the Dr. and Mrs. Edmond J. Gicewicz UB Athletics Hall of Fame in 1998.
Dando is survived by his wife, Frances C. "Willie" Dando; children Frances Marie Hoehn (Tim), William J. Dando (Sherri), Martha E. Dando (Terry Doyle); Siblings: Lawrence Dando, Ann Ewasko (John), Cathy Troutman, Helen Wolfgang (Emerson); Grandchildren, Stephanie, Chris, Jared, Sammy, Jamie, Joey, Nicky, Joseph, Bobby, Stephen and Billy. Sons in law, John Mizerak and Alan Wilczek; many nieces and nephews and 11 Great Grand Children.
In 1977, the UB football team was reinstated after the program was dropped following the 1970 season due to expenses and the campus' political climate. It was Dando who built UB's football program from scratch through a period of great transition, creating the base for the school's rise to FBS.
Over his career, Dando coached 12 All-Americans and 16 ECAC All-Stars, including two Upstate New York Football Conference Players of the Year. His best seasons were in 1983 when the Bulls finished 8-2 and in 1986 when the team went 9-2 for the second most single season wins in program history. The Bulls finished 1986 ranked 20th in the nation.
A native of Gordon, PA, Dando attended the University of San Francisco where he played football for two years before the program was disbanded. He then spent two years in the Marines playing service ball before finishing his career at the University of Detroit.
Dando began his coaching career as an assistant at John Carroll University from 1960-63. In 1964, he was promoted to head coach of the Blue Streaks and led the team to a 4-4 record, including a 4-1 mark in conference play. He served as linebackers coach at SMU in 1965 before heading to Western New York.
Dando was an assistant coach for four seasons under Doc Ulrich (1966-68) and Bob Deming (1969-70) before the program was initially dropped.
Dando was inducted into the Dr. and Mrs. Edmond J. Gicewicz UB Athletics Hall of Fame in 1998.
Dando is survived by his wife, Frances C. "Willie" Dando; children Frances Marie Hoehn (Tim), William J. Dando (Sherri), Martha E. Dando (Terry Doyle); Siblings: Lawrence Dando, Ann Ewasko (John), Cathy Troutman, Helen Wolfgang (Emerson); Grandchildren, Stephanie, Chris, Jared, Sammy, Jamie, Joey, Nicky, Joseph, Bobby, Stephen and Billy. Sons in law, John Mizerak and Alan Wilczek; many nieces and nephews and 11 Great Grand Children.
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