Breaking News: Bill Hicks, Club Coach and Recruiting Director for Firecrackers Organization, Passes Away

People often ask me what I like most about my job and there’s a lot to like, but inevitably it comes down to the same answer: “The people.”

Bill Hicks, who has coached in the Firecrackers organization based out of Huntington Beach, California, for many years and helped with the recruiting of hundreds of promising softball players, was one of those.

Bill passed away last night and it leaves a big void in the sport and in the heart of many of us who knew him personally.

“I spoke to him almost every day,” Sean Brashear, who coached with Bill, said just now. “He was truly a great man who loved his family and the sport of softball… and did so much to help so many.”

*** NOTE: a GoFundMe for Bill’s family has been created… to access the link CLICK HERE.

Sean put this on social media earlier this morning:

One person said it may have been a heart attack, but that’s unofficial. I just know it was sudden and a gut punch.

I talked to Bill just a few weeks ago about his players and the sport in general; he was so proud of all his kids, especially his daughters Tori and Katy, the latter who was a standout 2021 infielder who he just dropped off at Furman a few weeks ago.

I got a laugh in April when we were doing a softball players and their pets article and Bill wrote me this:

Hey Brentt,

Saw the thing you guys are doing pictures with players animals.

Here is one for you (LOL)

2021 Furman Commit Katy Hicks with her dog “Rizzo”.

Bill

Here’s the pic he sent:

We will have more on Bill in the near future. Prayers go out to his family—both immediate and all those in softball he touched.

Please keep those who knew him in your thoughts too.

— Brentt Eads, Extra Inning Softball