The golf teams at Salem Community High School would certainly not be as well known today if it were not for the coaching of William “Bill” Morgan.

Having coached for 33 years, 22 of which were as the golf coach at SCHS, Bill has achieved an impressive list of accomplishments. Probably the most impressive is a string of 15 North Egypt Conference championships, defining SCHS as the school to beat every year in the conference tournament. Also during his tenure, Salem won 16 invitational championships, seven Class AA regional championships, one sectional championship, three appearances in the State finals as a team and 12 individual State final appearances. He was named the Southern Illinois Coach of the Year in 1991 and 2002. Bill coached at least 15 players that have received college scholarships and 6 golfers who are now members of the PGA of America.

In 1988 Bill started the first girls’ golf program at SCHS. This program has also grown into a conference power each year. In 1991 Bill had the rare opportunity to coach both of his daughters, Julie and Jane, and his son, Jeff, in the State finals with the girls’ and boys’ teams. In addition to coaching golf, Bill coached tennis, ran the intramural program, and taught driver education at SCHS.

Since Bill’s retirement in 2003, he has continued to be involved with golf as a golf club maker, being named the Club Maker of the Year in Illinois in 2004, 2005, and 2006, and still plays daily at the Salem Country Club.