Bill Doba, former Washington State football coach, dies at 85

Former Washington State University football head coach Bill Doba has passed away at the age of 85. Doba spent 19 seasons with the Cougars, serving in various roles including linebacker coach, assistant head coach, and defensive coordinator before being named head coach in 2003.

During his five-year tenure as head coach, Doba led the team to a 30-29 record and three Apple Cup victories. In 2003, he shared the Pac-10 Coach of the Year honors with USC’s Pete Carroll after leading the Cougars to a 10-win season and a Holiday Bowl victory over Texas.

Prior to his long career at Washington State, Doba coached at the high school level in Indiana and served as an assistant at Indiana University and Purdue. He was a key figure in several successful WSU defensive units, including the 1994 defense that ranked third nationally in scoring defense.