Sometimes Plan B may turn out to have been the best plan all along.
As a student-athlete at Winslow Township High School in Atco, New Jersey, Bill Belton excelled on the football field. As the first prep quarterback in the state to have consecutive seasons of 2,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing, Belton threw for 2,167 yards and 21 touchdowns, while rushing for 1,003 yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior.
Those efforts earned Belton a scholarship to Penn State, where he moved to running back after beginning his Nittany Lions career as a wide receiver. During his junior and senior seasons, he totaled 1,329 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns, while catching 41 passes for 379 yards and three touchdowns.
Following his college days, Belton planned to pursue a career in pro football, which didn't work out. He returned to Winslow, where he became the offensive coordinator, in 2020.
"At the time, I was coaching at a rival school, and they were like, 'Why aren't you coaching over here? You can always come back here.' So I'm like, 'You know what? Let's talk after the season. We can get something figured out.' And one thing led to another," Belton said.
"Coaching is something that I felt like I was called to do. I felt like what led me back to where I'm from was something that was destined for my life. When I was playing, I always thought I was going to play for a long time and play in the NFL.
"But God had other plans for me. This is what He planned for my life and I'm thankful to be here. I'm just walking the path that was meant for me."
Belton has the advantage of coaching his players on the same field where he has been there and done that.
"It gives them knowledge or experience from someone that actually did it," Belton said. "It's not one of those things where we're just sitting there telling them what to do. It's something we did experience. We definitely walked the same hallways and understood what it's like to be a student-athlete at Winslow. All the ins and outs. And our players are very receptive to that."
They've also become receptive to winning. Becoming the head coach at Winslow in 2022, he led the school to a 14-0 record and its first New Jersey Group 4 State Championship last season.
"It was definitely a special moment for us," said Belton, the 2024 South Jersey Coach of the Year. "And for myself, just from playing here and not being able to capture one as a player but getting one as a coach is definitely a great feeling.
"But last year is over with. We understand that we're going to get everybody's best shot. And know week in and week out, we've got to put our best foot forward and be the best team that we can."
Belton is doing so with the benefit of lessons learned while playing for three different head coaches at Penn State – Joe Paterno, Bill O'Brien, and James Franklin.
"The biggest thing (I'm using from Coach Paterno) is just being on time. And if you're on time, that means you're early," Belton said. "His biggest thing was, 'Alright, we have a team meeting at 3 o'clock and that means being there at 2:55 ready for the meeting.' So that's the biggest thing, just teaching the kids to be on time and be professional. I learned that from every staff I was with.
"Bill O'Brien was the same way about carrying yourself a certain way and handling your business a certain way. So was Coach Franklin. And the biggest thing about Coach Franklin that I've kind of taken here is just being a guy that can talk to his players and have relationships with those dudes. Be the best coach I can be for these guys. Who they need."
Being who they need has led to Belton earning Philadelphia Eagles High School Coach of the Week honors.
"That means a lot to be honest with you. When I got an email saying that I've been nominated and all those things, it was a great feeling. One, because my girlfriend's a huge Eagle fan," Belton laughed. "But for myself, it just lets me know that I'm on the right track, doing the right things, and reaching kids and making sure that they are doing something with their lives. Getting better at football and becoming better people."
Looking to become an even better team, Winslow challenged itself this year by playing against two national powerhouses: Bergen Catholic High School, which is located in Oradell, New Jersey, and IMG Academy from Bradenton, Florida, who was the nation's fourth-ranked team when they met in August in the Battle at the Beach Football Classic in Ocean City, New Jersey.
"It was put together by the people of the West Jersey Football League and was a cool experience," Belton said. "All of our guys had a great time playing in it. We didn't come out with the win, but it was definitely great exposure for our school, putting us on a level that we've never been on.
"This is our first year where we took two national games, so we're hoping to kind of continue that going forward and start winning those national games."
Improving to a 3-2 record after beating Millville 49-6 on Saturday, what does Belton enjoy most about coaching at his alma mater?
"It's a great feeling. Just seeing them go out there and flourish in the things that we're trying to teach them is a feeling that's not describable," Belton said. "And just impacting kids and getting them into schools. I would say that's the most fun part for me. Winning games is fun, but I like seeing them go off and fulfill their dreams. That's the best part for me."
"What makes Coach Belton stand out is the culture he has built. Under his direction, effort, resilience, and heart are non-negotiable. These values have not only kept his players prepared, but have also given them the confidence to rise up and meet challenges head-on," Winslow Athletic Director Tyshema Lane said.
"He has not only elevated his program but also given his players and community a reason to be proud. His impact goes far beyond wins and losses; it's about the character, resilience, and unity he instills in everyone around him."
