William “Pappy” Gooch was a native of Roanoke, Virginia, where he was born in 1895. Gooch played four sports at Jefferson School for Boys in Charlottesville, Virginia. He also attended and played for Fishburne Military Academy in Waynesboro, Virginia.
“Pappy” entered the University of Virginia where he starred as quarterback leading the Cavaliers to victory over Yale, University of North Carolina and Vanderbilt.
Upon graduating from Virginia, Gooch taught and coached at Christchurch School and St. Christopher’s School in Richmond, Virginia, but soon returned to the University of Virginia where he served as an assistant coach.
In 1928, “Pappy” became Director of Athletics at the College of William & Mary. While at William & Mary, he coached five sports at various times. He served as the college athletic business manager and because of all his activities in sports, he received from the students and alumni the nickname of “Mr. William & Mary”.
The University of Virginia presented Gooch the Thomas Jefferson Award in recognition of his long service. This award was given to Gooch for upholding the same ideals and attributes in heart and mind, which the great Thomas Jefferson believed in.