Real-Life Inspiration for Assistant Coach in 'Remember the Titans' Passes Away at 94
By Sean Facey
The real-life inspiration for the iconic assistant coach in the classic sports movie "Remember the Titans" has passed away.
Bill Yoast, the former T.C. Williams High School football team assistant coach, died Friday. He was 94 years old.
Bill Yoast, assistant coach from T.C. Williams ‘Remember the Titans’ football team, dies at 94 https://t.co/xFpswXCaNn
— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) May 25, 2019
Yoast was a coach at the school for 25 years, starting in 1971 and ending in 1996, just a few years before the 2000 production of the movie. The iconic sports film chronicled the story of integration at the high school and the team's state championship run in 1971.
He was the defensive coordinator for the newly-integrated program after the head coaching job was given to Herman Boone.
Yoast's role was played by actor Will Patton.
Bill Yoast, the legendary football coach who helped lead T.C. Williams (Va.) to a state title - later immortalized in the memorable film ‘Remember the Titans’- passed away today at 94 years old.? @TCWTitans
— MaxPreps (@MaxPreps) May 24, 2019
(Via joeywrestler22/YouTube)
✍️ https://t.co/aCbKg6XXh5 pic.twitter.com/wmErm1Cwup
Yoast is the second notable person from the original team to die this year. Team captain Julius Campbell died in January due to organ failure.
Though Yoast has passed away, his legacy lives on through the film. His role in the team's success has forever been immortalized in one of the most popular sports movies ever created.