William Rybolt Bass (August 12, 1874 â October 25, 1951) was an American college football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Kentucky State CollegeâÂÂnow known as the University of KentuckyâÂÂfrom 1898 to 1899, compiling a record of 12âÂÂ2âÂÂ2. As a college football player, he earned letters at Ohio Wesleyan University in 1895 and at the University of Cincinnati in 1896 and 1897.