Rutgers Remembers All-American Bill Austin
Dec 10 | Football
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (December 10, 2015) - Rutgers Athletics mourns the passing of Bill Austin, who lettered in both football and lacrosse from 1956 to 1959. Austin passed away at the age of 78.
In his senior season for Rutgers football, Austin led the team to an 8-1 record, and was named an AP First Team All-American and First Team All-East Selection. The tailback also finished sixth in that season's Heisman Trophy voting, finishing the season with 757 yards and 15 touchdowns. For his career, Austin finished with 2,073 rushing yards and 32 rushing touchdowns.
Austin was a two-time Honorable Mention All-American lacrosse player, earning the recognition in 1958 and 1959. The midfielder also participated in the 1959 North/South Game. In his three years on the team, Rutgers lacrosse compiled at 23-9 record.
In 1959 Austin received the Donald Leslie Coursen Award, given to Rutgers Outstanding Male Athlete.
A lieutenant colonel of the Rutgers AFROTC program, Austin served in the Air Force after his graduation. Austin was recently inducted into the N.J. Sportswriters Hall of Fame in 2011.
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