Homecoming is always a special event at Ursinus, but this year's edition will carry added significance as Ursinus Athletics honors two of its legends for their remarkable contributions to the college and the department.
On Saturday, Ursinus will pay tribute to Bill Racich and Adele Boyd with a pair of dedication ceremonies. The wrestling room will be dedicated in memory of Racich following the completion of the 10 a.m. volleyball match against Goucher, while the newly resurfaced Snell Field will be dedicated in Boyd's honor at 11 a.m. prior to the field hockey team taking on McDaniel.
Racich, who passed away last September, coached the Bears' wrestling team for nearly four decades. He ranks first in wins among all men's single-sport coaches ever to serve at the college, as well as fourth on the NCAA's all-time list for all divisions.
Under Racich's tutelage, Ursinus established itself as the gold standard of the Centennial Conference, capturing 11 conference championships – including five in a row from 2003 to 2007. Racich coached 56 conference champions in addition to 17 All-Americans and two CoSIDA Academic All-Americans. Five of his wrestlers won the prestigious Chris Clifford Award, while six others were named Outstanding Wrestler at the CC championship meet.
Boyd, who passed away last January, made a $1 million gift for the Snell Field project, which included installation of a brand-new AstroTurf 12 field surface. Boyd also left an additional $150,000 to serve as a keystone to the next phase of capital athletic projects from Ursinus' campus master planning process.
Boyd coached the field hockey program for 17 years, which included 16 winning seasons. She guided the Bears to three consecutive runner-up finishes in the AIAW Tournament during the late 1970s, as well as the Eastern College Athletic Conference title in 1983. She played on the U.S. national team from 1959 to 1967, serving as captain for the second half of that tenure and traveling to Great Britain, Jamaica, and Germany on international tours.