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Two-Time WCC Coach of the Year
Led Dons to Three Straight WCC Championships
and ThreeStraight NCAA Appearances
USF Career Years: 1987-2000
Birthdate: November 5, 1951
Hometown: Wappingers Falls, NY
High School: Roy C. Ketcham High School
Bill Nepfel presided over the most successful stretch in the history of the USF Women's Basketball program. Serving as Co-Head Coach with his wife and fellow USF Hall of Famer, Mary Hile-Nepfel during a 13-year period from 1987 to 2000, the Dons compiled a 196-166 (.541) record, won or shared three WCC regular season titles, captured three WCC Tournaments and made three NCAA Tournament appearances. Nepfel's Dons were especially dominant during a three-year stretch from 1994 to 1997, compiling a 73-19 (.793) record and making three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.
In 1994-1995, the Dons made their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance after winning both the WCC's regular season and tournament titles. The following season, Nepfel and the Dons made a Cinderella run to the Sweet 16 with upset wins over 16th-ranked Florida and 13th-ranked Duke on the Blue Devils home floor. In 1996-1997, USF won a school-record 25 games, captured its third straight WCC Tournament title and made its third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. A two-time WCC Coach of the Year (1989-1990; 1994-1995), Nepfel was also named the NABC's District VIII Coach of the Year in 1994-1995 and was a Finalist for National Coach of the Year Honors.
Five of Nepfel's former players – Marlene Henderson, Renee Demirdjian, Jamie Shadian, Valerie Gillon and Brittany Lindhe – have been inducted into USF's Hall of Fame, while Lindhe became the second women's player to have her number retired by the University. Following his 13-year stint as Head Coach of the Dons, Nepfel continued to serve USF as an Associate Athletic Director for Compliance and Academic Services from 2000 to 2007 before moving into a similar role at San Francisco State in 2008.
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