Augustana College Athletics

Throw out the statistics when evaluating Bill Rapier. You have to in order to understand the value that the jumping-jack from Chicago had on Augustana basketball teams during the late 1970’s and early 1980’s.

If you look at his numbers on paper, here is what you get. You would get a guy who played in 78 games, scored 804 points for an average of 10.3 per game, grabbed 534 rebounds, had 152 steals and 254 assists. Nice numbers to be sure but not eye-popping.

However, if you were around during the years between 1978-81 when Rapier was patrolling the court for the Vikings, you would certainly agree that the phrase “Bill Rapier – Hall of Famer” makes perfect sense. One cannot judge Bill Rapier by his numbers, unless you use wins and losses. If you use that as a standard you will find that during his three year stint as a varsity player, Rapier led the Vikings to an overall record of 64-19 (.771) and 39-9 (.813) in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin. In the Carver Center, Rapier helped his team go 37-3 (.925).

What Rapier did was bring a toughness to the court and that rubbed off on his teammates. Not overly vocal, his style was classic “lead by example”. Late in the game, when a key rebound was needed, you could be assured that it was Rapier’s hands that would be around the ball. He scored big baskets and he was always involved in defensive stops.

His best year statistically was his senior season of 1980-81 when he averaged 12.9 points and pulled down 8.2 rebounds per game, recorded 116 assists and had 81 steals. He shot .584 (171-293) from the floor and was instrumental in the Vikings going 25-6 overall and 15-1 in winning the CCIW title. That year Augustana finished second in the NCAA Division III national tournament and Rapier was named to the all-tournament team in the Final Four. He was also selected to the NCAA Division III All-American team by Basketball Weekly Magazine.

During the run to the Final Four in 1981, the Vikings were forced to play at Beloit in the Midwest Regional. The first round opponent was North Park, who happened to be the three time defending national champion. Augustana won a hard fought game 81-68. That set up a showdown with undefeated, and number one ranked Beloit, for the regional championship. The Vikings won 56-53 on the Buccaneers home floor. Rapier was named to the all-tournament team for the Midwest Regional.

With the win, Augustana was back in the friendly environs of the Carver Center for a quarterfinal matchup with Whittier. In a close battle, Rapier scored 15 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, dished out three assists and had a steal as the Vikings prevailed 69-67 to earn a spot in the Final Four. Augustana defeated Otterbein in the semi-finals by a score of 93-81 before dropping a heartbreaker to Potsdam State 67-65 in overtime for the national title. Rapier was named to the all-tournament team in the Final Four to cap off an incredible career.

A two time team MVP, Rapier never played high school basketball. He had to be talked into trying out for the team as a freshman in 1977. He made the squad and played only on the junior varsity. Halfway through his sophomore season he became a regular and wound up starting the final 61 games of his career. He was a second team all-conference performer as a junior and made the first team in his senior season. Twice he led the team in rebounding and he still ranks eighth on the school’s all-time career field goal percentage list with a mark of .550.

He also managed to find time to earn three letters in track & field and placed third in the CCIW in the high jump in 1980.

A 1982 graduate of Augustana with a major in physical education, Rapier retired from the Chicago Police Department after a 21 year career. He attained the rank of sergeant and commanding officer of the physical skills unit, education and training division. Bill and his wife Tironda reside in Chicago and have three children: daughters Nicaya and Asia and son William, Jr. He currently teaches health and physical education and coaches basketball, track & field and cross country at Bogan High School in Chicago.

“Some of the most awesome and memorable years of my life….ever,” was how he summed up his Augustana experience.