Lafayette College Athletics

The late William "Bill" Lawson was born in Wilmington, Del. in 1934. He was a Navy Veteran of the Korean War and a graduate of Springfield College. Bill later received his master's degree from Westfield State College before returning to reside in Easton, Pa. and occasionally Rehoboth Beach, Del. 

As a multi-sport coach (primarily swimming and men's lacrosse), Lawson indefinitely contributed to Lafayette with his knowledge and passion for athletics. 

Lawson joined the Leopards' athletic staff in 1965 as both the swimming and tennis head coach before assuming the men's lacrosse post in 1972. He retained the swimming position until 1986 and continued as the school's diving coach until 2002.

He was named the Patriot League's Men's Lacrosse Coach of the Year in 1991 while amassing over 150 career victories, becoming the winningest coach in Leopard men's lacrosse history. Lawson was also crowned the Patriot League Diving Coach of the Year in 1999-2000.

He was selected as the recipient of the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association's "Howdy Myers Man of the Year Award" in 2000, presented to the person who has contributed to the game of lacrosse in a capacity over and above the normal efforts and has shown unselfish and undying devotion. 

Lawson was one of a select number of coaches who helped coach at the 2001 U.S. National Team tryouts and coached in the annual North-South All-Star lacrosse game on two occasions.

After the very next season, he was recognized as the USILA Man of the Year, additionally being inducted into the Pennsylvania Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2002.

Lawson retired following the 2002 slate, ending a decorated 37-year career. He later returned in 2007 as a volunteer assistant men's lacrosse coach for several institutions, including Lehigh and DeSales. 

The Leopard legend resided on College Hill with his wife of 53 years, Peggy, until his passing in 2013. He is survived by two children, Christine Hastings and her husband, David, and Glenn Lawson and his wife, Martha, as well as his grandchildren.

The Patriot League renamed its Coach of the Year award in his honor in 2014, solidifying his legacy of influence across generations of student-athletes. Former Lafayette College Director of Athletics Bruce McCutcheon noted that "anyone who was ever in Bill's company left with a smile on their face for having spent the time."