Graduated from City High in Iowa City in 1972 and the University of Iowa in 1977. During High School he went undefeated in the High Jump event but once at the State outdoor meet. He placed second though. His highest height was 6’7″ which earned him All-State recognition. Bill took his High Jumping talent to the University of Iowa where he was a two time Big Ten Champion and held the Big Ten Recprd at 7’3″.
Individual accomplishments:
- • Place in every Big Ten meet.
- • Freshman season – 6th indoors and out.
- • Sophomore season – 2nd indoors and out.
- • Junior season – Champion indoors and out.
- • Senior season – 2nd indoors and out.
- • Second highest Staddle Jumper ever in the USA at 7’4.25″, which is an Iowa all time record. 1976 – National AAU indoor Champ at 7’3″.
- • Ranked as one of the Top 30 Jumpers in the world in 1975-1976-1977.
- • Placed eighth at the 1976 Olympic Trials.
- • Five time NCAA All-American at the University of Iowa.
After graduation from the University of Iowa, Bill served as a graduate assistant while working on his masters degree in Exercise Physiology and competed for the Chicago Track Club. With all his accomplishments, William Knoedel was given the nickname of “Hawkeye”.