Slightly lost in the excitement of McAllen Memorial knocking off No. 1 Weslaco East on the road was a huge coaching achievement for the team’s bench boss. Coach Bill Littleton celebrated not only the 28-14 victory, but also his 100th win in blue and gold.
If you were caught in the whirlwind and didn’t notice, that’s exactly the way Littleton would have liked it. He instantly gave all the credit to the kids he coached over the years, not wanting even his moment to be about himself.
Ethan Bazan took time after his breakout performance to give due respect to the coach who has been such a recognizable part of Memorial and Valley football.
“It’s very special, because he’s a big part of our team,” Bazan said. “And he loves us, and we’re just here for him, and I’m glad to give him his hundredth win.”
Littleton has been a staple with the Memorial Mustangs since he took the reins as head coach in 2003. It wasn’t until his third year with Memorial that the Mustangs fielded a winning team. Since then, it’s been the norm.
In the past 12 seasons, dating back to 2005, Littleton has sent 10 of 12 teams to the playoffs. Memorial has also won six district titles in the past 11 years. It’s not just championships, it’s pure dominance. The Mustangs finished with an undefeated district record three times in the last six years.
Littleton has helped develop numerous Division I and other college prospects as well as given former players and coaches a platform to advance in their personal football goals.