The late William “Bill” Young was a Naperville Park District commissioner, Central wrestling coach, Park District police officer, dean of students and a teacher, among his other titles. He earned a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in education from Northern Illinois University and began his career at Central as a physical education and driver’s education teacher. He led the Central wrestling team to two top-10 state championship finishes. He is survived by two sons, 0ne of whom, Dan Young, spoke on his behalf at the induction ceremony.
The following Q&A includes dialogue from either a panel discussion of all five inductees or a one-on-one Central Times interview with the inductee.
Q: How does it feel for your dad to be inducted into Central’s Athletics Hall of Fame?
A: I think it’s great you would have loved it. He would have really appreciated it. I really wish he was here to accept it himself but unfortunately that can’t be. He truly loved this school, and he would have been absolutely thrilled.
Q: Were there any lessons that you learned [at Central] specifically that you would like to share?
A: My dad used to have a motto: “What’s the other guy doing?” So whenever Barry and I were laying on the couch, being lazy watching cartoons, it’d be “What’s the other guy doing? Yeah. Get your butt off the couch and go do something.”
Q: What was a highlight your dad had at Central?
A: My dad’s highlight, there’s two of them, they would have been the early 1970s. He had a string of really good teams. They won sectionals one year. And, these guys are so good that any gym they walked into the other team knew they’re about to get their butts kicked. Then the other one, I remember thinking about it. Getting ready for this was when we had a kid that was a heavyweight who had never won a match. He was like 0-15. And we were getting ready for the rest of the varsity match. He’s wrestling JV one. And this kid threw a guy to his back and pinned him. I never saw my father so happy.
Q: Is there anything you wish you could add?
A: I think his fellow faculty, the students he touched, know how much he really loved this place. I mean, when he was in a nursing home, we used to break them out. [We’d ask] “Where do you want to go?” “To school.” “All right”, drive around the building, “Now you can take me back.”
For more on the 2024 inductees, click here.
