Bill Devine was a valuable member of the Westfield State track and field team during its formative years in the early 1970s. The Westfield native was a team captain whose work ethic was an inspiration to his teammates. And the leadership skills he exhibited at Westfield State have stayed with him as he has coached cross country, track and field, and basketball at Western Mass. high schools for the past 30 years. 

Devine was not one of Westfield State’s most gifted athletes, but he did earn all-conference honors in the 200 meter dash and as a member of the 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 relays teams. The Owls’ 4 x 400 relay squad finished seventh in his senior year (1974) at the NCAA Division III national championships with a time of 3:19.6. 

Prior to attending Westfield State, Devine served a tour of duty with the Marines in Vietnam. Fluent in Vietnamese, he interrogated prisoners of war. Westfield State Hall of Fame track and field coach Gerry Gravel calls Devine the most mentally tough athlete that he has ever coached and a great role model. 

Devine graduated from Westfield High School in 1965, and participated in football, basketball and track and field. He received the William Crane Trophy for excellence in scholarship and athletics and the Rod Tyler Award for excellence in track. 

Devine majored in art at Westfield State and received a master’s degree in art from Assumption College in 1981. Devine is extremely proud that many of his Monson High School students continued their educations at prestigious art colleges. Furthermore, he has coached many runners who have participated in intercollegiate sports. 

Devine has been a dedicated teacher and coach in the Monson School District for the past three decades. He has served as both the varsity cross country and boys’ basketball head coach at Monson High School since 1976.  

In cross country, his teams have compiled a 262-128 record with five league titles and a Western Mass. runner-up finish in 2002. His basketball coaching record is 270-245 with a league title in 1980. 

After a three-year stint (1993-95) as the track and field head coach at Palmer High School, Devine instituted the Monson High School track and field program in 1996, and has served as the head coach for the past decade. He received Monson High School’s Distinguished Service Award in 1995. 

Devine remains busy during the summer months by working at numerous basketball camps. He has been an executive board member of the Massachusetts Basketball Coaches Association for the past 25 years, and was the association’s president in 2001. He received the association’s Division III coach of the year award in 1994. 

Devine and his wife, Elaine, reside in Monson. They have two children, Elizabeth (25) and Luke (21).