Billy “B.I.” Salyers

Class of 1991 / Inducted 2005 / Football

Billy “B.I.” Salyers is the only offensive lineman in ODAC history to be named ODAC Conference Player of the Year. A 1991 graduate of Emory & Henry, he was inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame in 2005.

Salyers was a staple of the offensive line for Wasp ODAC Championship teams in 1988 and 1990. He was named First Team All-ODAC on three occasions and was a three-time All-American – making honorable mention in 1988, second-team in 1989, and first-team in 1990. In addition to being named All-American his senior year, he also was named ODAC Player of the Year, South Region Player of the Year, and Touchdown Club of Richmond Offensive Player of the Year. During that 1990 season, the Wasps were number one in pass offense and number two in total offense.

After graduating from Emory & Henry, Salyers became a high school football coach. He was the Cumberland District Coach of the year in 2000, 2001, and 2002 as head coach at J.J. Kelly High School.  He later worked as an Assistant Coach at E&H for one year and is currently on the coaching staff at Dobyns-Bennett High School in Kingsport, Tennessee.