Stonehill College Skyhawks

Bill Zolga may have been the most dominating men’s basketball player in Stonehill history. A first team NABC All America selection in his junior and senior years, received outstanding tributes from opposing coaches, but none captured  Zolga better than Bridgeport’s coach Bruce Webster who escaped from Stonehill with a two-point win in Zolga’s junior year. Zolga almost won the game single-handedly against the nationally ranked Bridgeport Purple Knights. After the games, Webster said of Zolga: “Nine boys watched one man play basketball tonight.” Zolga finished his career with 1,822 points (third best all-time) and still hold career records for rebounding (1,147) and most rebounds in a season (405) set his senior year (1979-80). He also holds the Stonehill record for blocks in a season (64) and a career (174). He had a career-high 44 points in a one-point victory at St. Anselm College when he scored all Stonehill’s points in the second half. He had 43 in his junior year against Eastern Connecticut State College.

During his junior year, Zolga was selected ECAC player of the week three times and as a senior he made the honor once. He was also selected to ECAC honor roll nine separate weeks as a senior. He was selected to the United Press first team All New England as a junior and was an NABC All New England first team selection as a junior and senior. Bill’s junior year was a classic as he averaged 25 points and 10.5 rebounds, and blocked 64 shots. He was ranked nationally by the NCAA in the top 20 in all three categories. In his senior year had a 29-rebound game against UMass-Boston. Tom Folliard, Zolga’s coach as a junior and senior, called Zolga “a super star who will not assume that role.” He was praised by Division One coaches John Thompson (Georgetown), Dr. Tom Davis (Boston College) and Boston Celtics Hall of Famer Bob Cousy after games with Georgetown, B.C. and Assumption College. Dr. Davis nominated Zolga for Division I All-America in his junior year. Zolga was the only Division II player to be named on the St. Bonaventure All-Opponent team his senior year. In an 84-77 loss, Zolga had 27 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocked shots. He also had 25-point games against good B.B. and University of Rhode Island teams. Bill lives in Raynham with his wife Lisa, a Stonehill graduate, and their children.