LOUDONVILLE, NY – Bill Kirsch '56, HOF '76, who was the architect of the most transformational years in Siena College Athletics history, passed away at the age of 86 on Sunday, Dec. 9 at his home in nearby Rensselaer. A visionary and driving force behind Siena's elevation to the Division I ranks in 1976, he served concurrently as the College's athletic director and head men's basketball coach from 1972-82, and solely as athletic director until 1992.
 
Calling hours at the W.J. Lyons, Jr. Funeral Home located at 1700 Washington Avenue in Rensselaer will be held on Thursday, Dec. 13 from 4-8 p.m. The funeral service will take place on Friday, Dec. 14 at 10 a.m. at Siena College's St. Mary of the Angels Chapel, and will be followed by burial at the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Rensselaer.
 
"Bill's impact at Siena included success at every level – player, coach, and administrator," said Siena College Vice President John D'Argenio, who served as sports information director under Kirsch (1985-92) before succeeding him as athletic director. "He played an integral role as a player on some of the historic basketball teams, and made a lasting impact as both an administrator and coach by successfully executing his vision of returning Siena to the national prominence it enjoyed during the 1950's."
 
A 1976 Siena Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, Kirsch cemented his unparalleled legacy during his two decades as athletic director. His crowning achievements included presiding over the construction of the Alumni Recreation Center (1974), playing an instrumental role in bringing Siena into the Division I era (1976), overseeing both the men's basketball program's first NCAA Tournament appearance and victory (1989), and organizing the College's affiliation with the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (1989). Kirsch oversaw the athletic department's administrative transition from Division II to Division I status, as well as Siena's expansion to 17 varsity sports at the time of his retirement.
 
Kirsch ranks as the third winningest coach in the 80-year history of Siena Basketball, having amassed a 142-111 (.561) overall record during his decade-long joint tenure as both head coach and athletic director at his alma mater. The pinnacle of his success came during the 1973-74 season, when he led Siena to an 18-9 record and an NCAA Division II Tournament berth. Known for his traditional postgame cigar, Kirsch piloted Siena to .500 or better records in nine of his 10 seasons at the helm, with his only losing campaign coming during the program's transitional Division I season in 1976-77.
 
A 1956 Siena College graduate with a B.A. in sociology, Kirsch played for legendary basketball coach Dan Cunha from 1951-54. He first etched his name in Siena lore on Dec. 12, 1953, when he beat the buzzer with a game-winning 60-foot shot in a 56-54 win over Iona at Madison Square Garden. Contemporary sportswriter David Eisenberg described the shot, which holds the Old Garden record as the longest shot ever made, as "the most sensational basketball shot in Madison Square Garden history, a three-quarter courter from 60-feet out." Kirsch was a member of the 1951-52 Siena team which posted a 24-6 record and earned a berth in the National Catholic Invitational Tournament. Siena achieved the program's peak national ranking of 11^th in the Jan. 15, 1952 Associated Press Top-25 Poll, following a 55-52 upset of 11^th ranked Seton Hall three days earlier at the Washington Avenue Armory. He also competed in the historic six-overtime game vs. Niagara on Feb. 21, 1953. A two-sport star at Siena, Kirsch also starred at shortstop for the baseball team.
 
Kirsch began his distinguished career as a teacher and basketball coach at Maple Hill High School in Castleton. He later taught and coached at Russell Sage College and the Sage Junior College of Albany (JCA), where he posted a stellar 78-19 (.804) record from 1966-72, highlighted by four consecutive Northeastern Collegiate Conference Championships. JCA was invited to the National Little College Postseason Basketball Tournament in each of his six seasons at the helm.
 
A native of Rensselaer, who attended Rensselaer High School, Kirsch was a 2014 Upstate New York Basketball Hall of Fame inductee. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Grace (Gilbert), his children Tim, Gayle (Durivage), Ned, and Amy (Weitzel), 16 grandchildren, and six great grandchildren. Both Tim (1974-77) and Ned (1980-81) played basketball at Siena under their father. Kirsch was predeceased by a son, Steve.