About Bill Atkins
Lived 1934 – 1991 (aged 56). Bill Atkins was an American american football player and head coach.
William Ellis "Ace" Atkins (November 19, 1934 – November 5, 1991) was an American professional football player who was a safety and punter for the San Francisco 49ers in the National Football League (NFL), and in the American Football League (AFL) for the Buffalo Bills, New York Titans / Jets and Denver Broncos. In 1961, he was an AFL All-Star. He played college football for the Auburn Tigers.
Head coaching career On January 8, 1966, Atkins was named the head coach of the Troy State Trojans football team. Two years later, he coached Troy State to an NAIA National Championship and was named the NAIA Coach of the Year. Atkins finished at Troy State with a 44–16–2 record before leaving in 1971. He is the second winningest coach in school history behind only Larry Blakeney.
Personal life Atkins' son, author William Ellis "Ace" Atkins Jr., also played football at Auburn and was member of the 1993 undefeated team.
Head coaching record
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Important facts
People in Bill Atkins's life
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Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Bill Atkins?
American football player and coach (1934–1991)
When was Bill Atkins born?
Bill Atkins was born on 19 November 1934 in Millport.
When did Bill Atkins die?
Bill Atkins died on 5 November 1991 in El Paso.
What was Bill Atkins's occupation?
Bill Atkins was an american football player and head coach.
What nationality was Bill Atkins?
Bill Atkins was American.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: Billy Atkins (American football)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Bill Atkins. https://biography.guide/bill-atkins-american-football-player/
MLA: "Bill Atkins." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/bill-atkins-american-football-player/.
Chicago: "Bill Atkins." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/bill-atkins-american-football-player/.
Data last updated: 2026-10-02 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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