Bob Waters Robert ( Bob ) Lee Waters ( June 22 , 1938May 29 , 1989 ) was a successful American football coach and athletics director , best known for his contributions to athletics at Western Carolina University . Waters coached the football Catamounts for 20 football seasons ( 1969 through 1988 ) , and performed the dual roll of athletic director from 1971 – 1986 . According to Western Carolina , " the evolution and success of the school ' s athletic programs , especially its football program , during that period can be attributed largely to his talents and personality " . Waters retired from coaching in March 1989 due to the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ( ALS or Lou Gehrig ' s disease ) . He died on May 29 , 1989 , at the age of 50 following a six - year battle with the disease . Early life . Waters grew up in Sylvania , Georgia and was a successful athlete at Screven County High , receiving 11 varsity letter s for his participation in three different sports . He initially entered Stetson University in Deland , Florida , as a freshman quarterback and defensive back , but when Stetson dropped the school ' s football program at the end of his first season . Waters transferred to Presbyterian College in Clinton , South Carolina , where he served as a quarterback and defensive back on the college ' s team . In 1960 , the team was invited to the Tangerine Bowl meeting Middle Tennessee State ; losing by score of 21 – 12 , Waters was named " most outstanding player " . Waters was a member of Mu chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity at PC . Professional career . The National Football League ' s San Francisco 49ers and American Football League ' s San Diego Chargers both drafted Waters in 1960 . After signing with the 49ers , Waters finished his 4 - year career with 3 touchdown passes and 8 interceptions . Waters ' four years with the 49ers included one as a defensive back and four as quarterback . Coach and administrator . Waters changed career in 1965 , going to Presbyterian College as an assistant coach in 1966 . After two seasons with Presbyterian , Waters moved back to the West Coast as an assistant at Stanford University . In 1969 , Waters took a football coaching job at Western Carolina , bringing in a victorious season for the 1969 Catamounts in his first year , only losing to his alma mater Presbyterian College . Under his guidance , the team made national rankings in 1972 and 1974 , and in 1983 he took the Catamounts to the NCAA I - AA National Championship Game . According to the university ' s website , his tenure at Western produced " 116 victories , 13 winning seasons and top 10 national finishes at three different levels ( NAIA , NCAA Division II , NCAA Division I - AA ) " . He coached 13 All - Americans and 36 All - Southern Conference players . During the 1971 – 86 seasons , Waters also served as athletics director . During his service to the university , he directed Western ' s moved from NAIA , to NCAA Division II , then to NCAA Division I , and gained entrance into the Southern Conference . He helped raise interest in the construction of the E . J . Whitmire Stadium in 1974 and Hennon Stadium in 1986 . Honors . In 1988 , Waters was honored by the university , which named the playing field of E . J . Whitmire Stadium " Bob Waters Field " . Waters has been inducted into the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame , the Florida Citrus Bowl Hall of Fame and the Western Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame .