Coach Gardiner might be the most influential figure in Spring Hill College athletics history. He is recognized for leading the Badgers to some the program’s greatest victories. “Bill” came to SHC after his service in the infantry in World War II. The former Georgetown standout brought big-time college basketball to the city of Mobile. In the first season after WWII, Gardiner’s Badgers tipped off against the likes of Florida, Tulane, Troy and Southern Miss. From 1948 until his departure after the 1959 season, his basketball teams faced some of the best teams in the country. His 1951 squad won the Gulf States Conference title, his 1955 team beat Georgia an upset an undefeated Florida Gators team to win the Gator Bowl Tournament. Later that year, the Badgers beat Memphis to capture the Senior Bowl Tournament. He recruited some of the best student-athletes ever to walk on The Hill including SHC Hall of Fame members Frank Bolling, Jules Mugnier and Happy Mahfouz. Gardiner went on to be the Athletic Director and Basketball Coach at Loyola of New Orleans and finished his career as a scout for the Washington Bullets (Wizards) of the NBA.