Bill Malican

Bill Malican was a Special Education teacher at Hamburg High School for more than 30 years and a coach for 48 years!  Malican served as Head Coach for the modified swim team (15 years), Assistant Coach for the Girls Varsity Swim Team (4 years), 3 of which are already on the Wall of Fame, Head Coach for the Girls Varsity Cross Country Team (32 years), Head Coach for the Boys/Girls Indoor Track Teams (34 years), and Head Coach for the Girls Varsity Track Team (45 years), after starting the Girls Track program at Hamburg in 1976.

Under Coach Malican’s leadership, the Girls Track Teams were Divisional Champions 17 times, the Boys and Girls Indoor Track Teams were Sectional Champions 6 times, the Cross Country Team was Class B1 Champion, there were more than 22 Cross Country ECIC All-Stars during his coaching career, and 18 State Meet competitors.  Bill coached 30+ State Meet medal winners and 3 State Meet champions during his career.

Bill was also known for his leadership in the Western New York area, serving as the Director for 25 ECIC Championship Meets beginning in 1990, 17 of them held at Hamburg.  He also hosted and directed six Section VI Championship Meets, events that drew athletes, coaches and track officials from the entire Section VI territory of Western New York.  Bill was named Track and Field Coach of the Year 5 times.

Bill also hosted and ran the Williams Rodiek Relays for 38 of the 52 years the relays have been in existence.  Considered the “oldest invitational in Western New York,” there is strong consensus among area coaches that that was the best locally contested meet.

Malican was well-respected among his peers.  Wall of Fame honoree and fellow coach, Wayne Rose said, “I have witnessed the spirit and compassion of Coach Malican.  It is evident that two of his greatest qualities are the love and passion for coaching young men and women … [and] their achievements are the result of his dedication, concern and caring for them, each an individual in the own special way.”

According to Malican, “The most important things for me were the weddings, funerals, next generation and the common bonds my kids developed.  I have been blessed to have this opportunity to teach and coach for 48 years.  It has been a great pleasure to coach in Hamburg.  It has been an honor.”