University of Rhode Island

Bill Bleil joined the Rhode Island staff as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach in January of 2014. Bleil coached on the same Akron staff as Rhody head coach Jim Fleming from 2005-09.

Bleil coached a unit that saw four of the main linemen start all 11 games in 2015. Redshirt junior Tyler Catalina was a team captain and also earned CAA Football All-Conference Second Team honors under Bleil's guidence. In his first season with Rhode Island, Bleil coached an offensive line that improved dramatically as the season moved along. In the final six games of the season, the Rams linemen paved the way for a ground attack that rushed for an average of 170.6 yards per game. For the season, the Rams allowed just 22 sacks, the second-lowest total in CAA Football. Bleil also coached redshirt sophomore left tackle Tyler Catalina to CAA Football Third-Team All-Conference honors.

Bleil came to the Rams after helping Iowa State reach three bowl games in four seasons from 2009 through 2013. He was the assistant head coach at Iowa State since December of 2009.

Bleil coached the offensive line at Iowa State from December of 2009 through January of 2013, before focusing on the tight ends for the 2013 season. During Bleil’s time on staff, Iowa State had its most wins in a four-year span since 1906, while also helping the program have the highest graduation rate in the Big 12 in 2010, 2011 and 2012.

While he was there, the Cyclones played in the 2012 Liberty Bowl, 2011 Pinstripe Bowl and the 2009 Insight Bowl. Highly successful coaching the linemen, Bleil sent five Cyclones on to the NFL in four seasons, including Kelechi Osemele, who started as a rookie for the 2013 Super Bowl-champion Baltimore Ravens. Fellow Cyclone Center Reggie Stephens also was on the Ravens title team and now plays for Cincinnati. Bleil pupils Hayworth Hicks (Carolina), Carter Bykowski (San Fancisco) and Ben Lamaak (Oakland) all reached the next level.

Bleil has 23 years of experience of NCAA coaching experience, including nine years as a coordinator. He spent five years as the head coach at Western Carolina (1997-2001), and was the Southern Conference Coach of the Year in 2001. While at Akron as the assistant head coach and tackles/tight ends coach, Bleil helped the Zips win their first MAC Championship and Motor City Bowl game. He also helped Pitt win the Big East Championship and its first BCS bowl, the Fiesta Bowl.

While at Northern Illinois in 2003 as the tight ends coach, Bleil was part of a school-record 10-win season that included wins over Alabama and Maryland. His other coaching stops include South Dakota (2002), Pacific (1992-95) and Northwestern (1990-91).

Updated Dec. 2015