Bill Pilat
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- Class of:
- 1985
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- Induction Class of:
- 1995
Pilat has enjoyed tremendous success as both a player and a coach with the Maroons. In 1985, Pilat capped a four year career at Roanoke as the finest men’s lacrosse goalie in school history.
The winner of the nation’s C. Maryland Kelly Award (Most Outstanding Goalie) in 1985, Pilat still holds the Roanoke College career saves record, having stopped 710 shots in his playing career. As a sophomore, Pilat was a crucial piece to the team’s advancement to the national championship game, a contest in which he made 27 saves.
One of just three goalies in team history to lead the squad in saves for four consecutive seasons, Pilat was a three-time All-American and two-time ODAC Player of the Year. He holds the Roanoke record for career wins as head coach at Roanoke College.
Following his senior season, Pilat played in the annual North/South All-Star Game in 1985. He was named Roanoke's Male Athlete of the Year the same year.
Pilat has established himself as one of the top men’s lacrosse coaches at the Division III level. He is in his 22nd season as the Maroons’ head coach, is first on Roanoke’s all-time wins list with a record of 216-103, which is second all-time in ODAC History. He is one of only 13 coaches to eclipse over 200 wins at the Div. III level.
In 1992, Pilat became the first person in Roanoke history to both play and coach for the Maroons in a national championship game. He is an eight-time ODAC Coach of the Year and a four-time VaSID State Coach of the Year (College Div.).
