14 Facts About Bill Erickson

Bertil William Erickson was an NCAA All-American basketball player at the University of Illinois during a career that spanned from 1947 to 1950, and then a player in the National Professional Basketball League for the Saint Paul Lights.

Bill Erickson was an outstanding high school basketball player, where he led the E-Rabs to consecutive IHSA boys' "Sweet-16" appearances in 1945 and 1946.

Unfortunately, Bill Erickson's team lost the game, finishing in fourth place for the season.

In 1973, Bill Erickson was inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association's Hall of Fame as a player.

Bill Erickson chose to play basketball at Illinois after high school.

Bill Erickson played in every single game during his four-year career and was a starter for the final three.

Bill Erickson was familiar with Combes based on the fact that it was his Champaign High School team that had knocked Bill Erickson's Rockford East team out of the Illinois high school basketball tournament just two seasons earlier.

In 2008, Bill Erickson was honored as one of the thirty-three honored jerseys which hang in the State Farm Center to show regard for being the most decorated basketball players in the University of Illinois' history.

Bill Erickson was selected in the 1950 NBA draft by the Tri-Cities Blackhawks in a late round.

From 1951 to 1953 Bill Erickson was part of a group of college All-Stars that toured South America with the Globetrotters and the games were actual competitions.

Bill Erickson coached basketball at Freeport High School from 1953 to 1955 followed by an opportunity to start the Rockford College men's basketball program, of which he was the first head coach.

Bill Erickson remained the Rockford Regents head coach for three seasons from 1955 to 1958.

Bill Erickson worked as personnel director for Elco Tool and Screw, and then later became the assistant vice president of American National Bank.

Bill Erickson died September 21,1987, at the age of 59.