Story Published:
Jun 26, 2009 at 12:16 AM CST
Story Updated:
Jun 26, 2009 at 12:16 AM CST
SPRINGFIELD -- This coming Tuesday marks the end of an era at Missouri State University when Bill Rowe retires as the school's athletic director. Rowe has been at the university for nearly five decades as a student, coach, and administrator.
"He's an icon," said football coach Terry Allen.
For 47 years, Rowe has been a part of Bears athletics, including 19 years as Southwest Missouri State baseball coach in which he took teams to four NCAA Division 2 World Series. One of his former players, Keith Guttin, took Rowe's place as coach when he became athletic director in 1982.
Now that he's leaving, "It's really strange," said Guttin. "All those years, and now it's hard to believe he won't be in that office."
In his almost three decades as A.D., Rowe was the chief architect behind the biggest changes in school history.
"Twenty-seven years as an A.D.," said MSU President Mike Nietzel. "That did give him the opportunity to transform the athletics at an institution in ways you can't in a shorter tenure."
During his time, the highly successful Division 2 program made the tough transition to Division 1 with new or upgraded facilities in all three major sports of basketball, baseball, and football. And, in its short Division 1 history, the Bears men's and women's teams have made 45 trips to NCAA Championships, including the 2003 College World Series, a men's basketball berth in the Sweet 16, and two women's basketball trips to the Final Four -- the only Division 1 program, men or women, in Missouri to make it to a Final Four.
"Almost every team has been to the playoffs in Division 1 and that's hard to do," Rowe said.
It's not Rowe's accomplishments that most people talk about, however. It's his relationships.
"I don't think he's ever met somebody that he can't call a friend," Allen said.
"He's influenced a lot of people; that's his legacy," said Guttin. "It's not the buildings. His passion and compassion for other people that will hopefully be passed on."
"When I see former players and they send their kids back here, that explains it all," Rowe said. "because I do care for the people. I wouldn't have stayed here if I didn't."
And MSU athletics would have never been the same. The many people he's touched will always have a special place for him.
"He's a mentor," said Guttin.
The same goes for Rowe.
<>p>"The coaches and student-athletes -- you never forget 'em," he said.
