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Bill Ensley, coach who revitalized UNG basketball program, dies at 84

By AccessWDUN Staff
Posted 10:31AM on Monday 10th February 2020 ( 4 years ago )

Funeral services will be held Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020 for the man who is credited with reviving the basketball program at the University of North Georgia in Dahlonega.

Coach William 'Bill' Ensley, Sr. of Dahlonega died Saturday, Feb. 8 at the age of 84.  

Ensley attended Murray County High School in northwest Georgia and earned a basketball scholarship to the University of Georgia, where he set rebounding record. He began his coaching career at Jefferson High School and Hart County High School. While at Hart County High School, he won three state championships, becoming the only coach in Georgia history to win both a girls’ and boys’ state championship on the same night in 1963. 

Ensley revitalized the UNG-Dahlonega basketball program in 1971. As head coach for 18 years, he never had a losing season. He also served as UNG's Director of Athletics for 24 years. 

Ensley was named Atlanta Tip-Off Club Coach of the Year in 1976. In 1994, Coach Ensley was named to the NAIA Hall of Fame and was the recipient of the NAIA’s Athletic Administrator of the Year in 1991. He was inducted into the University of North Georgia's Athletics Hall of Fame in 2011. 

Funeral services for Ensley are scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15 at Dahlonega Funeral Home Chapel in Dahlonega, Georgia.

Coach William 'Bill' Ensley (File photo)

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