Beginning Saturday, Sept. 21, when future Wilmington College football teams walk out of the Hermann Court locker-room and onto the Townsend Field turf, they’ll do so along Ramseyer Way.

The sidewalk between Hermann Court and Townsend Field is being named Ramseyer Way, in honor of the legendary Wilmington College football coach. The naming will take place Sept. 21 during Homecoming festivities as the WC football team hosts Muskingum. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m.

“Wilmington College welcomes the family, friends and former players of coach Bill Ramseyer to our Homecoming celebration, which will include a reunion and gathering of those for whom the coach made such a positive impact on their lives,” said WC President Corey Cockerill. “We will celebrate Coach Ramseyer’s memory and his legacy of success on the football gridiron and in the classroom, and those enduring relationships he fostered at Wilmington College throughout his lifetime.”

Ramseyer died in 2021. He was 84 years old.

There are several activities set for Homecoming Saturday at the college.

A silent auction will be held 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the RCC Student Success Center. The Ramseyer family will be auctioning off memorabilia from their personal collection.

A large tent will be in place on Collett Mall for friends and former players to share memories about coach Ramseyer. The tent will go up at 11 a.m.

The Ramseyer Legacy Gathering of former players, coaches and family will take place at 2 p.m. on the basketball floor at Hermann Court for those wishing to join the Ramseyer family on the field prior to the game.

The Ramseyer Way Legacy Walk will take place at 2:30 p.m. Family, former players and former coaches will walk the WC tunnel (now Ramseyer Way) and enter the field in acknowledgement and recognition of Bill Ramseyer’s contributions to Wilmington College. Those who take part will remain on the field to greet the 2024 Fightin’ Quaker football team prior to their Ohio Athletic Conference battle with the Muskies.

A football coach for 44 years, Ramseyer coached at Wilmington (1972 to 1990) and then started the football program at Virginia’s College at Wise (1991 to 2001). He was a three-time district coach of the year. He was 114-58-4 as head coach at Wilmington, reaching the national playoffs in 1980, 1982 and 1983. His 1980 team was national runnerup.

A 2002 inductee into the Clinton County Sports Hall of Fame, Ramseyer has taken part in seven hall of fame inductions. He was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1997.

Ramseyer coached his football teams to winning seasons in 24 of the 30 years he coached. The Quakers were NAIA national runnersup in 1980. He coached 70 All-Americans.

Reach Mark Huber at 937-556-5765, via email [email protected] or at twitter.com @wnjsports