Bill Gentry's Coaching Career

 

Carl “Bill” Gentry was born in Slayton, Texas in 1926. He served in the Navy in WW2 aboard the destroyer USS Henderson. In 1948-1949, Bill was a starting lineman for the University of New Mexico’s Lobos football team. 

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Bill Gentry’s success in high school football is unmatched in the state of New Mexico.  Gentry’s success was spread over five decades, beginning in 1958 at Highland High School in Albuquerque. He coached at Highland for 31 years, compiling a 245-81-5 mark and state championships in 1963, 1965 and 1986. His Highland teams finished second in the state playoffs on three other occasions, and he qualified for the state playoffs 19 of 31 years. 

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His 1963 NM state football champion Hornets were a perfect 11-0, including nine shut-outs. They defeated Las Cruces 20-0 for the State AA title.

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He was known for his no-nonsense, ground-and-pound, football-as-it-was-meant-to-be-played. He loved the art of blocking, tackling and running the ball – be it smash-mouth or misdirection. Highly respected by coaches, athletes and fans throughout the state of New Mexico, Gentry is considered a nationally known expert on the “Delaware Wing-T offense”, and in 2000 published a book sharing his ideas and techniques.