Legendary for his exploits on the mat and revered as a patriarch of the Penn State wrestling program after 14 seasons as the Nittany Lions head coach, Bill Koll died Saturday in State College at the age of 80.

Koll guided the Nittany Lions to a 127-22-7 record during the years 1965-78.

An inductee to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, before sowing the seeds of his wrestling legend, Koll served his country during World War II.

An Olympian, three-time NCAA national champion and undefeated Iowa state champion his senior year in high school, Koll succeeded on every level. He returned from his tour of duty to compete at Iowa State Teachers College (now known as the University of Northern Iowa) where he compiled a magnificent 72-0 record and was taken down just once in a three year career.

Koll won three NCAA Championships from 1946-48, wrestling at 145 and 147.5 pounds, and was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler at the NCAA Tournament in 1947 and 1948, becoming the first man ever to earn the award twice. His performance helped lead Northern Iowa to runner-up NCAA team finishes in 1946 and 1947. Koll went on to compete for the United States in the 1948 Olympics held in London where he earned a fifth place finish.

Koll spent three years as the wrestling coach at the University of Chicago while earning his master's degree from Northwestern University and eventually would earn a doctorate from Oregon State in 1965.

Affectionately referred to as "SOB" by the Penn State wrestling community, Koll said it stood for "Sweet Old Bill" while his many wrestlers would point to a less jovial meaning.