General | 6/19/2017 10:31:00 AM
The Shippensburg University community is saddened to learn of the June 17 death of Bill "Spider" Corman. "Spider" served Shippensburg in numerous capacities during his 26-year tenure, including stints as its director of athletics, head wrestling coach, and head baseball coach. He was 91.
SU extends its sincerest condolences to his family, friends and the countless individuals he mentored and influenced.
From 1971-1982, Corman served Shippensburg as its director of athletics. His tenure featured steady improvement among the athletic teams, transitioning from an overall winning percentage of just above .400 to .638 at the time of his retirement. As athletic director, Shippensburg teams won seven PSAC titles: football (1976 and 1981), men's soccer (1971 and 1975), baseball (1977 and 1981) and men's track & field (1982).
"I'm proud and happy to have served Shippensburg State College," Corman said at his retirement in 1982. "There's no place better than SSC. "I feel that we made a lot of progress in athletics at Shippensburg and I wish luck to SSC in the future."
While serving as athletic director, Corman also played an important role in Shippensburg's relationship with the PIAA. Corman was instrumental in fostering good relations with the PIAA, helping to arrange numerous high school championship events at Shippensburg.
"As athletic director, I'd like to think that I played a part in putting Shippensburg on the map," Corman said at the time of his retirement. "A lot of the success that we have had at Shippensburg is due to the PIAA events. Those events have attracted a tremendous number of student-athletes and families to our campus. The biggest part of recruiting is getting the athletes and their families on the campus, and these events helped. They have helped every team at the college and they have helped the community. We have fine facilities and we have always tried to be a good host."
Corman especially made his mark in the wrestling world. From 1956-1982, Corman's teams compiled a won-loss record of 231-166-8, posting 23 winning seasons in 26 years as head coach. Corman's 1972 team was 15th in the nation among NCAA College Division teams and his 1978 team was 22nd in NCAA Division I.
"Some of the things that I feel really proud about as a coach and father are the accomplishments of my sons," Corman said at his retirement. "Bill and John wrestled for me and I was one of the few people In the country that had two sons wrest!ing for them, and they both were All-American caliber wrestlers. We were one of the top small college teams In the nation In 1972 when they led the team. Then, in 1981, my son Dave was drafted in the first round by the Baltimore Orioles to play professional baseball."
A native of State College, Corman graduated from State College High School and served in the Air Force in World War II. In 1947 he won the Pennsylvania Conference championship in wrestling as a freshman at California State College. Moving to Penn State the following season, he placed at the Eastern National Conference championship during his sophomore and junior years, He was prevented from wrestling during his senior year because of injuries. During the course of his Penn State career he also played baseball and football, graduating in 1950.
Corman also served Shippensburg as the head baseball coach from 1961 to 1965, an assistant football coach from 1956 to 1971, and functioned as the lead trainer for several years. He was inducted into the SU Athletics Hall of Fame as an honorary member in 1997.
"Both as athletic director and wrestling coach I've had many highlights during my career, too many to mention," Corman said back in 1982. "Just working with the young people through the 26 years that I've been at Shippensburg has been a continuous highlight. When you're teaching and coaching you hope that you are a favorable influence in their lives."
If you have a remembrance of "Spider" Corman that you would like to have included in this story, please submit through e-mail to
sid@ship.edu and we will strive to post it below.
"1958, off to Shippensburg State Teachers College, now the University. Coach Corman was the one who gave me the opportunity to enroll as a freshman, using my skills in both football and wrestling. He opened the door for a future in education and for me coaching. Lost track of Bill over the next years of family, and life in general. A fine leader, coach, and above all human being. Remembered with a most thankful heart. -- Ron Thomas, Class of 1962
"Coach Corman was very influential in my life. Like others, I remember the chili with fondness, and the late night treks are another strong memory, if a little less enjoyable. I always appreciated his patience with me and the one-on-one coaching I received from him. He was an excellent coaching mentor, not just as a teacher of the sport but also as a living example of how a coach should carry himself. Additionally, I always respected Coach Corman's faith. Hopefully, I passed some of him along to my son, and I am proud to belong to the Corman coaching tree." -- Steve Longenecker, Class of 1973
"I had the privilege of wrestling for Spider for four years at Shippensburg, of which three of those years we went to the NCAA Division I National Championships together. Coach Corman was a tremendous role model; fair and honest to everyone. We always said the Lord's Prayer before each and every match. He taught the team members family values. In fact one summer I lived with Bill and Sandy Corman on King Street taking a summer class. Emotions fill my heart, as I think back of all the driving experiences in winter weather, going to colleges up and down the East Coast. More importantly; I feel honored and privileged to be affiliated with such a tremendous University and a quality man as Bill "Spider" Corman. In 1978; we beat both Lock Haven & Bloomsburg and finished ranked No. 22 at the NCAA Division I Tournament. More important then any win/ lost records was the many lessons of life that he taught his teammates. What a blessing he was to all that were privilege to know him! May he rest in peace. -- Drew Krapf, Wrestling 1974-78, Class of 1978
Please consider these for Coach Corman: My memories with Coach: 1.Coaches advice for me as a freshman in a close match with Bloom; "Don't get pinned". 2.Fishing/Hunting trips with Coach. 3. Helping build the hunting camp. 4.Our trip home from a match with Clarion/Ball State/Florida state my freshman year when we got T-Boned around Orbisonia in a snow storm. 5. Road trips when Coach had to stop for Chili/Milk shake. 6. The Orange bowl trip my senior year when we ran out of gas late at night. 7.The trip from E-Stroud my senior year when we hit an ice storm and got back to Ship about 6:30 am. 8. How excited he was when he told me we were going to play Slippery Rock in Michigan Stadium. Thanks for the memories you gave me Coach Spider. -- Ken Schaeffer, Wrestling 1976-80, Class of 1980
"I wrestled for Coach Corman in the early days of Ship wrestling. We were the "Red Raiders" in those days. I was given an Indian headdress at a pep rally one time--probably would not be "politically correct" in these days. Coach Corman turned a no-name team and made us into a good team. I think the only teams we could not beat were Lock Haven and Bloomsburg. The first time I rolled around the mat with him I quickly learned why his nickname was "Spider." Rest in Peace, Coach. -- Bob Dennison, Class of 1961
"I was part of the 1974-78 Football program and also for Wrestling for two years where I got to work for Bill as an administrative assistant to the AD. My foremost recollection was when he offered his personal car so I could travel back home to see another doctor regarding a sports incurred knee injury. Mr. Corman was a consummate gentleman and exemplary mentor for myself and many others. My sincere condolences to his family." -- Art Murphy, Class of 1978
"I just wanted say that my thoughts and prayers go out to the Corman family. This was a good man. Very honest and fair and taught me more about life than just wrestling. If he believed in you then he was loyal and committed and would do everything he could to make sure you could succeed not only on the mat but in life. Now that says everything right there. Rest in peace Spider. God bless." -- MIchael Capuano
"Coach Corman was very instrumental to me in my everyday life long after wrestling for him for just my freshman (1958) and sophomore (1959) years. I was a townie and got the chance as a high schooler to work out with the team before I went to Ship after high school graduation. Working hard for what you want and patience were just some of the many qualities I learned from Coach Corman. I lived briefly in the 'wrestling house' on Earl Street and he would visit with us to make sure were studying periodically. My time with the Ship Wrestling team was one of the earlier teams and I was lucky enough to finish second at the PSAC Tournament both years and I could not have accomplished this without the great wrestling knowledge of Coach Corman. I dropped out of the Ship after two years then came back in '64 with two years of wrestling eligibility but didn't compete but I had conversations with the coach before graduation. -- Garry "Pete" Gribble
