Ben Wilson (American football coach)

Ben Wilson (January 15, 1926 – October 2, 1970) was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Wichita State University from 1969 until three games into the 1970 seasons when he was killed in a plane crash.

Ben Wilson

Biographical details
Born	(1926-01-15)January 15, 1926 Cadiz, Ohio, U.S.
Died	October 2, 1970(1970-10-02) (aged 44) near Silver Plume, Colorado, U.S.
Playing career
1945–1948	Heidelberg
Position(s)	Center, linebacker
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1950	Heidelberg (freshmen)
1951–1955	Wellston HS (OH)
1955–1957	Mount Vernon HS (OH)
1958–1959	Sandusky HS (OH)
1960–1964	Warren G. Harding HS (OH)
1965–1968	Virginia (OC)
1969–1970	Wichita State
Head coaching record
Overall	2–11 (college) 95–32–5 (high school)

On October 2, 1970, Wilson and his wife, Helen, were killed along with 14 players on the team and several others during the Wichita State University football team plane crash en route to a game at Utah State University.^[1] The remaining team members completed the season under assistant coach Bob Seaman.^[2]

Head coaching record

College

Year	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Bowl/playoffs
Wichita State Shockers (Missouri Valley Conference) (1969–1970)
1969	Wichita State	2–8	1–4	T–5th
1970	Wichita State	0–3	0–0
Wichita State:		2–11	1–4
Total:		2–11