Indiana University Athletics
Legendary IU Coaches Billingsley, Loring and Yeagley Awarded President's Medal for Excellence
9/7/2018 2:00:00 PM | General, Men's Soccer, Men's Swimming and Diving, Women's Swimming and Diving, Women's Tennis
Bloomington, Indiana - Indiana University President Michael A. McRobbie recognized three legendary Hoosier coaches Friday with the highest honor he can bestow.
McRobbie presented long-time Hoosier coaches Hobie Billingsley, Lin Loring and Jerry Yeagley with the President's Medal for Excellence, recognizing their enormous coaching achievements and the immeasurable impact each had on their respective sport.
"It is a great pleasure to award the President's Medal for Excellence to Indiana University coaching legends Jerry Yeagley, Hobie Billingsley and Lin Loring for their remarkable contributions to IU Athletics, one of the nation's most storied intercollegiate athletics programs," said McRobbie. "They represent the very best of Indiana University—and during their successful coaching careers, they helped countless student-athletes learn to embody the Hoosier values of hard work, dignity, and respect for others."
The Hoosier coaching trio join a very select group of 127 individuals who have received the medal since its introduction in 1985.
"Indiana University Athletics congratulates these three very deserving recipients of this prestigious honor," IU Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Fred Glass said. "In each case, they led IU teams to Big Ten and national championships while enjoying multiple decades as one of the nation's dominant programs. In addition, each was an innovator who left a lasting impression on their respective sport that is still felt to this day."
The President's Medal for Excellence is awarded to individuals at Indiana University to recognize outstanding academic, artistic or professional accomplishments or to individuals for exceptional service to the university.
In each of these coaches' cases, their contributions have been enormous.
Billingsley was one of the world's most respected and revered coaches in the world of diving for more than three decades. During his 30 years at IU (1959-89), he coached 115 national champions, 22 Big Ten champions, five world champions, and three Olympic gold medalists. He coached Olympic teams in 1968, 1972, 1976 and 1980, and in 1994 was presented with the Sammy Lee Award, the world's highest honor in amateur diving.
"They don't hand a lot of these out, and it's a tremendous honor," said Billingsley. "I've always said that I love Indiana University not because of the name, but because of the people I've worked with and been around here. There are some truly, truly amazing people and they are a big part of me getting this honor. I'm tremendously grateful."
Loring is the all-time winningest women's tennis coach in NCAA Division I history. He compiled a 846-336 record in 44 years as a Division I head women's tennis coach, with 804 of those victories coming during his 40 years at IU (1977-2017). He mentored 25 All-Americans, 82 All-Big Ten selections and seven Big Ten Athletes of the Year. His 1982 team captured the AIAW national team championship, led by Heather Crowe, who won the 1982 AIAW individual national championship. A two-time National Coach of the Year, Loring's teams won 16 Big Ten titles and from 1978-85 won a remarkable 104 consecutive matches against Big Ten opponents.
"When you read the history of this award you realize what an honor it is to receive it," Loring said. "What makes it even more special is that I'm receiving it with two of my mentors and best friends in the IU coaching fraternity."
Like Loring, Yeagley is the all-time winningest coach in his sport, the architect of the nation's premiere collegiate men's soccer program. He arrived at IU in 1963 and first developed IU's club soccer program. By 1973 it gained varsity status, setting the stage for a 31-year head coaching run that included six national championships, 16 College Cup appearances, 10 Big Ten regular season titles, and 10 Big Ten Tournament championships. A six-time national coach of the year, Yeagley went 544-101-45 during his varsity coaching career and remains the all-time leader in wins.
"To be recognized for having success at my life's passion, and to be honored by our outstanding president at this world-class university, it doesn't get any better than that," Yeagley said.
McRobbie presented long-time Hoosier coaches Hobie Billingsley, Lin Loring and Jerry Yeagley with the President's Medal for Excellence, recognizing their enormous coaching achievements and the immeasurable impact each had on their respective sport.
"It is a great pleasure to award the President's Medal for Excellence to Indiana University coaching legends Jerry Yeagley, Hobie Billingsley and Lin Loring for their remarkable contributions to IU Athletics, one of the nation's most storied intercollegiate athletics programs," said McRobbie. "They represent the very best of Indiana University—and during their successful coaching careers, they helped countless student-athletes learn to embody the Hoosier values of hard work, dignity, and respect for others."
The Hoosier coaching trio join a very select group of 127 individuals who have received the medal since its introduction in 1985.
"Indiana University Athletics congratulates these three very deserving recipients of this prestigious honor," IU Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Fred Glass said. "In each case, they led IU teams to Big Ten and national championships while enjoying multiple decades as one of the nation's dominant programs. In addition, each was an innovator who left a lasting impression on their respective sport that is still felt to this day."
The President's Medal for Excellence is awarded to individuals at Indiana University to recognize outstanding academic, artistic or professional accomplishments or to individuals for exceptional service to the university.
In each of these coaches' cases, their contributions have been enormous.
Billingsley was one of the world's most respected and revered coaches in the world of diving for more than three decades. During his 30 years at IU (1959-89), he coached 115 national champions, 22 Big Ten champions, five world champions, and three Olympic gold medalists. He coached Olympic teams in 1968, 1972, 1976 and 1980, and in 1994 was presented with the Sammy Lee Award, the world's highest honor in amateur diving.
"They don't hand a lot of these out, and it's a tremendous honor," said Billingsley. "I've always said that I love Indiana University not because of the name, but because of the people I've worked with and been around here. There are some truly, truly amazing people and they are a big part of me getting this honor. I'm tremendously grateful."
Loring is the all-time winningest women's tennis coach in NCAA Division I history. He compiled a 846-336 record in 44 years as a Division I head women's tennis coach, with 804 of those victories coming during his 40 years at IU (1977-2017). He mentored 25 All-Americans, 82 All-Big Ten selections and seven Big Ten Athletes of the Year. His 1982 team captured the AIAW national team championship, led by Heather Crowe, who won the 1982 AIAW individual national championship. A two-time National Coach of the Year, Loring's teams won 16 Big Ten titles and from 1978-85 won a remarkable 104 consecutive matches against Big Ten opponents.
"When you read the history of this award you realize what an honor it is to receive it," Loring said. "What makes it even more special is that I'm receiving it with two of my mentors and best friends in the IU coaching fraternity."
Like Loring, Yeagley is the all-time winningest coach in his sport, the architect of the nation's premiere collegiate men's soccer program. He arrived at IU in 1963 and first developed IU's club soccer program. By 1973 it gained varsity status, setting the stage for a 31-year head coaching run that included six national championships, 16 College Cup appearances, 10 Big Ten regular season titles, and 10 Big Ten Tournament championships. A six-time national coach of the year, Yeagley went 544-101-45 during his varsity coaching career and remains the all-time leader in wins.
"To be recognized for having success at my life's passion, and to be honored by our outstanding president at this world-class university, it doesn't get any better than that," Yeagley said.
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