With great sadness, we announce the passing of Coach Bill Norton, a beloved husband, father, coach, and friend. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family—his wife Vivian, son Nate (class of ’92), and daughter Jessica—during this difficult time.
Brother Rice High School’s winningest basketball coach, Bill Norton, was one of the most respected figures in Michigan high school basketball. His legacy was solidified with the 1973-74 team that won Brother Rice’s first State Championship, marking a pivotal moment in the school’s athletic history. Over his career, Norton amassed 323 wins at Brother Rice, contributing to his impressive 456 total victories.
Beyond his achievements on the court, Coach Norton served in many significant roles at the school, including Athletic Director (1968-1981), Dean of Students, Director of Development, and as a Science and Health teacher. He also briefly coached the football team in 1968. Though his championship team’s shining moment occurred half a century ago, Norton’s influence at Brother Rice remains profound, leaving a lasting legacy that extends far beyond basketball.
He was known for his genuine care and support for all students, whether they were athletes or those pursuing other interests outside of sports. He was a mentor and guide, offering valuable life lessons and advice that changed countless lives along the way.
Throughout his 21-year tenure as Brother Rice’s head basketball coach (1965-81, 1996-99), Coach Norton led the Warriors to two Class A state finals: a thrilling overtime 62-56 victory over Detroit Cass Tech in 1974 and another OT thriller in 1977, which ended in a hard-fought loss to “Magic” Johnson and Lansing Everett.
Coach Norton began his coaching career at St. Mary High School in Mt. Clemens in 1962 before taking the reins at Brother Rice from 1965 to 1981. After a stint as an assistant coach at Michigan State University, he returned to Brother Rice from 1996 to 1999. He then led Birmingham Groves from 2000 to 2008. Under his leadership, Bill’s teams won seven League Championships, 15 District Championships, and five Regional Championships. He guided three teams to the Final Four, with two of them playing for the State Championship. His crowning achievement, of course, came in 1974 when his Brother Rice team won it all.
In January of 2024, Brother Rice recognized the 50th anniversary of that remarkable first state championship, gathering the team and coaches together for a celebration of their noteworthy achievement. In a poignant moment at the Champions Dinner, President Tom Reidy presented Coach Norton with the inaugural Blessed Edmund Rice Medal, symbolizing leadership, dedication, and his profound impact on our school. As one who embodied the ideals and charism of Blessed Edmund Rice, it was a well-deserved tribute honoring not only Coach Norton’s achievements as a gifted basketball coach but also his enduring spirit and faith that made it all possible.
As our hearts remember Coach Norton, his legacy lives on in the many students whose lives he touched. Truly, it was a race well run.