Bill Courtney

Bill Courtney (born August 24, 1968) is an American football coach, and the CEO of Classic American Hardwoods, a lumber company headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee. He is the subject of the 2011 Academy Award-winning documentary, Undefeated, which chronicles his career as a high school football coach in the economically pressured area of Shelby County, Tennessee.

Early life Courtney was born in Memphis, Tennessee, on August 24, 1968, to William Bankhead Courtney Sr. and Linda Shubert Courtney. He grew up in a single-parent household, being raised by his mother.

He enrolled at the University of Mississippi in 1986 on a 4-year academic excellence scholarship. While in school he joined the Sigma Nu fraternity, and served as Lieutenant Commander. During his tenure, he helped found the Charity Bowl in 1989. He started his company after working with JT Shannon Lumber Company in Horn Lake, Mississippi, from 1996 to 2001 as Vice President. On February 26, 2012, the movie won the 2011 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. Yahoo Sports said that Against The Grain was “a smooth read, fit for a range of readers from high school students needing a kick in the pants to executives needing a bit of direction and focus in their lives.” During publication week, Courtney appeared on several well-known national American morning shows and nationwide radio shows. Bill Courtney and Against The Grain received an outpouring of support from industry leaders including, Jeanie Buss, John Feinstein, and Sean Combs.

During publication week, Courtney was a part of a live webcast with Seattle Seahawks head coach, Pete Carroll for a discussion moderated by Yogi Roth. This live webcast was the first on-air interview with Pete Carroll since their 2014 Super Bowl win. During the webcast, Roth moderated a discussion with Carroll and Courtney on leadership and success. Courtney’s book was discussed throughout the event.

Promotion of Against The Grain was scheduled to continue through summer 2014 at various book signings throughout the United States.

Awards and recognition Courtney has been recognized by several of his peers because of his work with Classic American Hardwoods. In 2007, he received the Memphis Small Business of the Year from The Memphis Business Journal. He also received the Carnival Memphis King’s award for outstanding achievements in business and industry in 2012. In 2013, he was inducted into the Society of Entrepreneurs.

His work as a community leader has also been recognized on large platforms. He was inducted into the Bridge Builders for leadership in diversity, community, and justice in 2011. In 2012, he was honored with the Liberty Bowl’s Spirit of 1776 Award for Distinguished Citizenship. In 2012, he received the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame – Memphis Chapter’s award for the Distinguished American for Contribution to Amateur Athletics.

Courtney was the subject of the documentary, Undefeated, which won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Film in 2011.

Personal life Courtney is the cofounder of Man Rise, an organization that gives financial support to help five city schools with their football programs. He is the former board member of Orphanos Foundation, and also supports St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Bill met Lisa Matthews in 1991. They were introduced by her Aunt, Susan Heider, a fellow employee at the time of Rosemark Academy. They married in 1992. They have four children. Courtney and his family reside in Memphis, Tennessee.