Harry Wilhelm was a member of the Stivers Football team that won the State Championship in 1919. He was coach at Stivers High from 1924 until 1926. In an article by Marc Katz, he was described as a hell and high water coach. Harry Wilhelm was coaching both football and basketball when the Tigers won their 5th state basketball title. In 1924 the team lost the City Championship to Steele High but went on to become the State Champs – beating the Ravens from Youngstown. Ohio 15-14. A few months later his football team went 10-0-1 and claimed a National Championship.
He left Stivers and became coach at Illinois and coached the late great Red Grange. Red later recalled Harry, saying that he was a great student of the game and a great coach.