A distance runner throughout his career at Valparaiso, William Wilke turned his success as a student-athlete into success as a head coach upon graduation.

A four-year cross country and track and field competitor, Wilke earned All-Indiana Collegiate Conference honors in cross country as a senior. He captained the Crusader squad to the ICC championship in 1969, the third such title in program history. He was a Crusader Scholar in 1968.

Wilke enjoyed exceptional success coaching cross country from 1974-2000 at Portage High School. He finished his career with a 225-21 record in dual meets and led the Indians to 20 top five finishes in the state of Indiana as well as 20 conference titles. Wilke’s teams won four state championships and six times finished state runner-up. The 2000 National Federation of High School Coaches National Coach of the Year, he was named Indiana State Coach of the Year four times. Wilke was inducted into the Indiana Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches Hall of Fame in 2001.