MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — WVU Sports Hall of Fame member and legendary Logan High School boys basketball head coach Willie Akers has passed away. He was 89 years old.
Akers was an integral player during the “Golden Era” of West Virginia University basketball. He was a letterman for the Mountaineers from 1958-1960. Akers played in 93 games during that three-year span, and the Mountaineers posted a record of 81-12. In 1958, West Virginia climbed to the nation’s No. 1 ranking. A year later, West Virginia advanced to the National Championship game.
Akers averaged 7.2 points and 6.2 rebounds per game during his WVU career. He averaged a career-best 8.0 points per game in his senior season, where he served as team co-captain alongside Jerry West. Akers’ teams won a pair of Southern Conference Championships and played in three NCAA Tournaments.
Members of the 1959 #WVU Final Four team honored at halftime: (Jerry West, Willie Akers, Jay Jacobs & Howard Schertzinger). pic.twitter.com/alOs6NsJve
— Joe Brocato (@joebrowvm) February 2, 2019
Akers was a native of Mullens in Wyoming County. He was a two-time All-State selection at Mullens High School and he led the Rebels to the state championship in 1955.
Following his graduation from WVU in 1960, Akers played two seasons of professional basketball for the Cleveland Pipers in the ABL. Akers moved to Logan and he began an impressive head coaching run, leading LHS to Class AAA state championships in 1964, 1977, 1978 and 1983 and four state runner-up finishes as well. He posted a career record of 402-116 as the head coach. Akers also served in several administrative roles, including Logan County’s assistant superintendent of schools.
Akers was induced into the West Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 1991, the Logan High School Hall of Fame in 1994 and the West Virginia University Sports Hall of Fame in 2002. The home court in the historic Logan High School Fieldhouse bears Akers’ name.
It saddens us to learn that Coach Willie Akers has passed away
Coach Akers lead lead his Runnin’ Wildcats to four state championships in 1964, 1977, 1978, and 1983 compiling a 402-116 record. His impact and legacy has inspired generations of Wildcats both on and off the court pic.twitter.com/ASbAk70r4x
— Runnin Wildcats Basketball (@Runnin_Wildcat) August 19, 2026