Bill Stephen coached Fitzroy on three separate occasions from 1955 to 1957, 1965 to 1970 and 1979 to 1980. Stephen also coached Essendon, from 1976 to 1977, with a 16 win, 27 losses and 1 draw record. His overall VFL coaching record stands at 258 matches, 84 wins, 172 losses and 2 draws, including the all time VFL/AFL record for most games coached without a grand final appearance. He was sacked from Fitzroy in 1970 as he was recovering in hospital from pneumonia and also from Essendon in 1977. He resigned from his final VFL coaching appointment part way through the 1980 season, after coaching the Lions into the finals in 1979 for the first time since 1960.