News Story

A New Path: William Coyle ‘00

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By Laura Farmer

William “Bill” Coyle ’00 didn’t have to travel far to attend college at the University of Maryland. But that doesn’t mean his journey to college was simple.

Bill grew up in Owings Mills, Maryland. His father was a commercial truck driver. His mother was a stay-at-home mom to Bill and his three brothers. Their family was comfortable, never lacking what they needed. But there wasn’t much left over to afford college.

When it came time to apply for colleges, Bill was accepted into several competitive universities. But their price tag deterred him. Fortunately, Maryland’s in-state tuition, coupled with Bill’s merit- and need-based scholarships, offered a highly regarded engineering education at an affordable cost.

“Maryland allowed me to graduate with relatively little debt. Without those scholarships, I would have graduated in a very different situation,” he shares.

Finding His Path at Maryland

At Maryland, Bill studied chemical engineering, drawn to that track by both his aptitude and interest.

“I liked math and science in high school, so engineering was a natural pairing,” he says. “And I wanted something practical where you could graduate and easily find a job.”

Bill’s engineering education was complemented by opportunities to explore subjects beyond his major. Bill was part of the University Honors program, where he encountered a broader academic world beyond equations and lab work.

“One of the things I appreciated was access to honors seminars,” he says. “Instead of standard classes, I took things like Military and Media in American History, The Ups and Downs of Human Flight, and The Black Experience in American Drama. Those were just very cool ways to experience non-engineering subjects.”

Those non-major courses expanded his thinking and deepened his curiosity about how the world works, developing him as a person.

Learning by Doing

Equally influential was Maryland’s cooperative education program, which allowed Bill to alternate between classroom learning and full-time work, including a year year and a half as a co-op student at FMC Corp. in Baltimore and Exxon in Houston.

“You start to understand not just how something works, but why it exists,” he says. “What problem it’s solving, how the business side connects to the technical side.”

That exposure also helped shape his career direction.

“At Exxon, I worked more on the marketing side,” he says. “That gave me a different lens—understanding the commercial side of engineering.”

In fact, the value of experiential learning became clear to Bill early in his career. Motivated by the experiences that helped shape his own professional path, he recently expanded his support of the Clark School beyond scholarships with a multi-year commitment to the Experiential Learning Fund. Through hands-on, team-based learning opportunities, the fund helps students connect theory to practice and develop the skills and judgment that come from solving real-world engineering challenges.

Mentors and Community

Without scholarships, I would have graduated in a very different position. It’s about creating that same opportunity for someone else.

William Coyle '00

Bill’s experience at the University of Maryland extended well beyond academics and internships. He became deeply involved in the engineering community, serving in student leadership.

“These experiences gave me broader exposure to balancing work, academics, and being involved,” he recalls.

Bill’s involvement fostered a sense of belonging and connection that still resonates today.

“I felt connected to the school beyond just taking classes,” he says. He also notes that being part of the Engineering Student Council helped him connect with peers to build lasting friendships. Faculty mentors were also an important part of Bill’s experience. He fondly recalls professors such as Richard Calabrese and Sandra Greer, whose teaching and mentorship left a lasting impression.

Launching a Career

Armed with a strong foundation from Maryland, Bill joined AlliedSignal after graduation through a rotational development program that bridged engineering and business. That blend of technical and commercial thinking became a defining thread in his career.

Bill joined ZS, a consulting and technology firm, in 2004. When he joined the company, it employed about 650 people. Today, it operates globally with approximately 14,000 employees. Bill has grown into a senior leadership role and now serves on the firm’s leadership team and board.

“It’s been a journey of growth,” he says. “We help clients solve complex problems, especially in healthcare and life sciences.”

Why Giving Back Matters

Despite his professional success, Bill remains grounded in the experience that made it all possible: access to an affordable education.

Bill wanted to create the same opportunities for other Maryland students that had been created for him, so he invested in the Coyle Endowed Scholarship. Bill’s scholarship supports engineering students who demonstrate both financial need and a commitment to being engaged members of the university community.

“It’s not just about academics,” he explains. “I want to support students who are involved and making the most of the opportunity.”

Even more significant, Bill takes time to learn about each scholarship recipient, finding inspiration in their hard work and stories. Perhaps because he sees a bit of himself in their journeys.

“Many of the recipients are first-generation college students. In my own family, both on my father’s and my mother’s side, we had relatively few who went to university. I understand some of what it took for them to get to college. Many of the recipients also balance work and school and manage financial challenges while still engaging in student activities and organizations. They’re working hard and trying to take full advantage of the opportunity,” says Bill.

A Lasting Perspective

For Bill Coyle, the decision to give back isn’t abstract. He deeply understands the value of his degree because he knows that others stepped in to make it possible for him.

It’s rooted in lived experience and in a clear understanding of how opportunity shapes outcomes. Today, his support helps ensure that others don’t have to choose between affordability and opportunity.

“Without those scholarships, I would have graduated in a very different position,” he says. “It’s about creating that same opportunity for someone else.”

Published June 24, 2026