Coach Bill Pilat Turned an Accidental Jersey Number into a Lifelong Symbol of Purpose, Passion, and Family
Some athletes begin their stories with a number on their backs—something chosen, something symbolic. But for Roanoke College men’s lacrosse coach Bill Pilat, his legacy began with the number he didn’t choose.
“I said my first two years I’m going to wear number 1, and my next two in high school, I’m going to wear 33, and that was my plan,” said Pilat. That plan was disrupted in his junior year when jersey 33 went missing. The equipment manager handed him a new jersey and said, “somebody stole a few jerseys last night, so we don’t have your number 33.”
The number he was given? 37—a number he jokingly called “a junkie number” at the time. But what began as an inconvenience became the foundation of a remarkable story—one that shaped Pilat’s life and legacy.
As one of the top high school goalies in the country, Pilat had his pick of colleges. But it was Roanoke College that called him, not just as an athlete, but as a man destined for more than just saves and stats.
To this day, Pilat holds the school record for career saves—710—but his greatest save may have happened off the field. “I met her my freshman year because she was chasing after one of my teammates to date him… So I always liked her.” That teammate didn’t pan out, but Pilat and Diana did. They married after graduating in 1985 and stayed in Roanoke to raise their family—twins, Will and Emily.
Returning to coach his alma mater in 1989, Pilat’s love for the game only deepened. “I’ve never wanted to do anything else.” From locker rooms to life lessons, his impact grew beyond scoreboards. “Having them grow up around the boys, I have pictures of some of the guys on the team holding them when they were babies… It’s crazy because, you know a college boy maybe never held a baby before.”
Pilat became one of the winningest coaches in NCAA men’s lacrosse history. But accolades aside, one coaching moment stood above the rest: “That’s one of the greatest moments of my coaching life to have your son want to come play for you. And that was the best four years I had coaching.”
When it came time to retire, he knew it was the right decision. “You can’t do it forever… it’s hard to say goodbye, but it’s okay because I have only good memories.”
Bill Pilat’s story reminds us that legacy is not about control or perfection—it’s about how we respond to the unexpected. It’s about love, leadership, family, and the imprint we leave on others. A number that once meant nothing—37—is now etched in the heart of Roanoke College lacrosse and the lives he touched.
“37 is definitely my lucky number. I just got it by luck, and it just seemed to fit. I owe a lot to the decision to go to Roanoke College. Who knows what would have been.”
Legacy isn’t built in a moment—it’s built in every moment. It’s in the numbers we never meant to wear, the students we never meant to teach, and the paths we never meant to walk. Bill Pilat didn’t chase legacy—he lived it, one save, one student, and one family moment at a time.
Source
- https://youtu.be/JBexnnF7lFM?si=lo7Lx8uRZL5UfLo8
- https://www.wdbj7.com/2025/05/30/what-is-legacy-number-37/
- https://app.pictory.ai/
- https://chatgpt.com/
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