Former FCS coach dies after apparent suicide

Published January 13, 2015

One-time Austin Peay head football coach Bill Schmitz died Monday from an apparent suicide, authorities said.

Schmitz, 59, most recently served as the head coach at Land O' Lakes High School in Tampa.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said Schmitz drove his car to the Sunshine Skyway Bridge around 5 a.m., exited the vehicle and jumped over the side of the railing. His body was recovered four hours later.

Schmitz was a well-traveled coach, leading Austin Peay to a 39-65 record in six seasons from 1997-2002.

His other coaching stops included Cincinnati, Rice, Vanderbilt, Eastern Michigan and UAB, as well as Penn on the FCS level and the London Monarchs of the World League of American Football. His first head coaching job was at the United States Coast Guard Academy, his alma mater, where he went 20-19 in four seasons from 1993-96.

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