Bill Niepoth
Track & Field (1946-49)
Basketball (1946)

Bill Niepoth came to Chico State with “hoop dreams” but quickly discovered his calling was on the oval track at University Stadium.

Bill lettered in track all four years at Chico. As a junior, he raced to a second place finish in the two-mile run at the Far West Conference championships. The following year, Bill concluded his collegiate athletic career in a blaze of glory by winning the FWC two-mile run championship.

Bill graduated with a degree in Art and a minor in Physical Education. After serving in various capacities in the field of Recreation throughout the 1950’s, he became a professor and eventual chairperson of the Department of Recreation at Cal State Hayward. His leadership offered many options for low income urban students coming from the Bay Area in the fields of recreation and leisure.

In 1973, Bill returned to Chico State where he served as a professor of Recreation and Park Management for over 20 years. He was awarded emeritus stats at the time of his retirement in 1994.

Retirement, however, hasn’t stopped Bill from continuing his service to the community. He is currently the chair of the first World Leisure Working Group on Children and Youth helping develop programs for youth on a world-wide basis.