| Bill Barclay | |
| Birth Place: | Flint, Michigan, U.S. |
| Death Date: | September 1, 2001 (aged 85) |
| Death Place: | Topsfield, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Player Years1: | 1935–1938 |
| Player Team1: | Michigan (football, basketball, golf) |
| Coach Sport1: | Basketball |
| Coach Years2: | 1939–1940 |
| Coach Team2: | Davison HS (MI) |
| Coach Years3: | 1940–1942 |
| Coach Team3: | Cadillac HS (MI) |
| Coach Years4: | 1942–1946 |
| Coach Team4: | Michigan (Asst.) |
| Coach Years5: | 1946–1949 |
| Coach Team5: | Harvard |
| Coach Sport6: | Football |
| Coach Years7: | 1939 |
| Coach Team7: | Davison HS (MI) |
| Coach Years8: | 1940–1941 |
| Coach Team8: | Cadillac HS (MI) |
| Coach Years9: | 1942–1945 |
| Coach Team9: | Michigan (Asst.) |
| Coach Sport10: | Golf |
| Coach Years10: | 1945–1946 |
| Coach Team10: | Michigan |
| Overall Record: | 24–49 |
William C. Barclay was an American athlete and coach who played football, basketball, and golf at the University of Michigan and was the head coach of the Harvard Crimson men's basketball team.
Barclay was born and raised in Flint, Michigan. In 1933, he led Flint Northern High School to the Michigan Class A Championship. In 1934, he enrolled in the University of Michigan, where he earned varsity leaders in football (1935–37), basketball (1936–38), and golf (1936–38).[1] On October 30, 1937, he intercepted a pass to set up Michigan's only touchdown in their 7–6 victory over the Illinois Fighting Illini.[2] He won the 1939 Michigan Amateur Golf Championship.
In 1939, Barclay began his coaching career at Davison High School. In 1942, he returned to his alma mater as assistant varsity basketball coach and freshman football coach.[3] In 1945, he became head coach of the Wolverines golf team.[4]
On October 21, 1946, Barclay was named head basketball coach at Harvard. Led by Saul Mariaschin, the Crimson compiled a 16-9 record in 1946-47. However, Harvard went 8–40 over the next two seasons and Barclay's contract was not renewed when it expired in July 1949.[5] [6] [7] Barclay scouted for the Harvard Crimson football team after his former Michigan teammate Arthur Valpey became head coach in 1948.
In 1940, Barclay became the golf pro at the Cadillac County Club in Cadillac, Michigan. While coaching at Michigan, he managed and was the professional for the school's golf course.[8] From 1948 to 1980, Barclay was the golf pro at Salem Country Club in Peabody, Massachusetts. He made it to the final round of the 1959 New England PGA Championship, but lost to Bob Crowley. He was named NEPGA professional of the year in 1978 and 1999 and was elected to the organization's hall of fame in 1999.
Barclay died on September 1, 2001 at his home in Topsfield, Massachusetts. He was 85 years old.[9]