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Bill Holsclaw
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John William Holsclaw III (May 26, 1936 – November 7, 2021)[1] was American football player and coach. He played quarterback for the Virginia Tech Hokies.
Key Information
Holsclaw attended Charleston High School in Charleston, West Virginia. He played at the tailback position in high school.[2]
Holsclaw played college football at Virginia Tech under head coach Frank Moseley from 1956 to 1958. He was the starting quarterback of the 1958 team and became the first Virginia Tech player to tally 1,000 passing yards in a season. He also set new Southern Conference single-season records for both passing yards (1,013) and total offense (1,227 yards).[3][4] His 1958 total also ranked sixth nationally in total offense.[5] At the end of the 1958 season, he was selected by the Associated Press as the quarterback of the all-Southern Conference football team.[6] He was also named the most valuable player within the boundaries of the Southern and Atlantic Coast Conferences.[7]
Holsclaw later worked as a high school teacher and coach. He was a football coach at Big Creek High School (assistant coach, 1959),[8] Spotsylvania High School (head coach, 1960–1962), Osbourn High School (1963–1971), and Woobridge High School (assistant, 1972–1974; head coach, 1975–1989).[9][2]
Holsclaw and his wife Yvonne had four children: Kirsten, Olga, T.D., and Ryan.[9][2]
Holsclaw died on November 7, 2021.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ "John William Holsclaw, III". Tribute Archive. November 7, 2021. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
- ^ a b c "Former Hokie QB will forever remain in the Tech record book". Hokiesports.com. Virginia Tech University. November 16, 2012.
- ^ "Tech Tops Keydets 21-16 As Holsclaw, Henry Shine". The News. Lynchburg, Virginia. November 29, 1958. p. C14 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Holsclaw Leaves A Rich Legacy". Ledger-Dispatch and Star. November 28, 1958. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Official Collegiate Record Book. National Collegiate Athletic Association. 1959. p. 65.
- ^ "Tech End Captains All-SC: Dale, Holsclaw Top Honor Team Voting". Ledger-Dispatch and Star. November 25, 1958. p. 23 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Billy Holsclaw Voted Most Valuable Player". Ledger-Dispatch and Star. November 25, 1958. p. 23 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Holsclaw Gets Coaching Post At Big Creek". The Roanoke Times. May 7, 1959. p. 34 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Paul Kyber (September 3, 1981). "You can't keep a good coach down". Potomac News. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Fawcett, Dave (November 7, 2021). "Former Woodbridge and Osbourn head football coach Bill Holsclaw passes away". Inside Nova. Retrieved June 2, 2025.