Bobcat defensive tackle inducted to Hall of Fame

The history of Bobcat Football is filled with players that make spectacular plays and create the memorable wins we love, including defensive tackle Bill Kollar. Just this year, Kollar was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame by the National Football Foundation

Kollar played at MSU from 1971 to 1973 as a defensive tackle and during that time created a name for himself and made headlines. His most recent headline has been as the National Football Foundation (NFF) selected him for the class of 2023 College Football Hall of Fame. The inductees this year were chosen from a national ballot of 80 players and nine coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision, and 96 players and 33 players from the divisional ranks.

The end result for the 2023 inductees are “star studded” according to the NFF website.

Steve Hatchell, president and chief executive officer of NFF and the College Hall of Fame, had high praise for Kollar.

Hatchell said, “An amazing combination of quickness and size, Bill Kollar dominated in the Big Sky Conference in the early 1970s, disrupting offenses, blowing past linemen and helping Montana State claim the 1972 conference title. His accomplishments place him among the best to have played the game, and there’s no doubt he deserves to be immortalized in the College Football Hall of Fame.”

These compliments echo throughout his career. In the Oct. 3, 1972 edition of ‘The Exponent’ it was stated that Kollar, “has anchored the stout Bobcat defense during the first four games of the season.” In that same edition, an article on the Bobcat’s win over Idaho, Kollar was cited again for his defensive prowess being a key component of the win.

In similar fashion, a 1973 edition asked iconic Bobcat coach Sonny Holland about a recent win in Missoula over UM. They quoted him as saying, “tops on defense, according to Holland, were … tackles Wayne Hammond and Bill Kollar.”

And while his college career included amazing work, Kollar has worked for the past eight years with the Denver Broncos as defensive/ special projects coach. According to the Broncos website, he originally worked as the defensive line coach. On top of that, he has a total of 37 years of coaching experience with 32 of those at the NFL level.

As a Bobcat, it is an honor to have such an award placed on an alumni who has made such an impact here at MSU and beyond. Kollar will be officially inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame during the 65th NFF Annual Awards Dinner in December.