William Caulfield Raftery (July 28, 1887 – July 2, 1965) was an American football, basketball, and baseball coach. He was the 17th head football coach at Virginia Military Institute (VMI) located in Lexington, Virginia. He held that position for ten seasons, from 1927 until 1936. His career coaching record at VMI was 38–55–5. This ranks him fifth at VMI in total wins and 19th at VMI in winning percentage. Raftery was born in Worcester, Massachusetts. He studied law at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, where played college football as a quarterback in 1912 and 1913. He entered the pharmaceutical business in Ashland, Virginia in 1948, retiring in 1960. Raftery died on July 2, 1965, at his home in Ashland. He was buried in Lexington, Virginia. Head coaching record Football Basketball References External links 1887 births 1965 deaths American football quarterbacks Baseball third basemen VMI Keydets baseball coaches VMI Keydets football coaches VMI Keydets basketball coaches Washington and Lee Generals baseball coaches Washington and Lee Generals baseball players Washington and Lee Generals football coaches Washington and Lee Generals football players Washington and Lee Generals men's basketball coaches People from Ashland, Virginia Coaches of American football from Massachusetts Players of American football from Worcester, Massachusetts Baseball coaches from Massachusetts Baseball players from Worcester, Massachusetts Basketball coaches from Massachusetts