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Class of 2000
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Raymond A. Bussard
Ray Bussard, a native of Highland County, VA lettered in basketball, football and track at Bridgewater College in the 1950’s. He drew national attention for his versatility in track. At the 1951 National AAU meet, he was runner-up in the all-around title. The following year, Bussard won the all-around title.
After graduating from Bridgewater College, Bussard entered the high school coaching profession and established one of the most phenomenal coaching records in the nation. He coached football for eight years, basketball for eighteen years, baseball for nine years, track and field for 18 years, and intercollegiate swimming for 21 years. His record for high school football is 43-24-12, basketball 241-99, baseball 128-52, track and field 172-7 and intercollegiate swimming 252-20.
Only his record as the Head Swimming Coach at the University of Tennessee surpassed the high school championships and other honors Bussard had accrued. His teams won the Southeastern Conference Championship eight times, had nine undefeated seasons, and produced 14 NCAA Gold Medal winners and 2 Olympic Gold Medalists. With a won-lost percentage of 92.6%, Bussard has the winningest percentage of any sport in NCAA history. He coached the University of Tennessee swim team to NCAA runner-up in 1973. In 1976 and 1978, Bussard’s swim team went to the NCAA National Championship. He coached the U.S. swim team to victory over USSR in a dual meet in 1978 and in 1982. In 1979, Bussard coached the U.S. swim team to victory at the PAN AM meet, and in 1983, he coached a PAN RIM meet. Bussard also coached the United States Olympic swim team in the 1984 Olympics.
Bussard achieved many accomplishments throughout his career in sports. He was selected as NCAA Swim Coach of the Year in 1972 and 1978, and SEC Swim Coach of the Year in 1972, 1974, 1976, 1977, and 1978. In 1984, Bussard was inducted into the Tennessee Swimming Hall of Fame and was selected as National Intercollegiate and Scholastic Swim Coach of the Year. In 1987, he received the Bridgewater College Distinguished Alumni Award. Bussard was also inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 1988 and Bridgewater College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994. In 1999, he was selected for induction into the International Swimming Hall of Fame. The University of Tennessee has named their Intercollegiate swimming pool in honor of Raymond Bussard.
(To Sports Inductees List) |
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