Florida Tech Alumni Association to Host ‘A Toast to Bill Jurgens’ Legacy Celebration for Athletic Director on October 9

By  //  August 3, 2021

Jurgens retired in 2020 after 50+ years of service

The Florida Tech Alumni Association is hosting a legacy celebration for Athletic Director Emeritus, Bill Jurgens, on Saturday, October 9, 2021, at the Charles & Ruth Clemente Center. (Florida Tech image)

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – The Florida Tech Alumni Association is hosting a legacy celebration for Athletic Director Emeritus, Bill Jurgens, on Saturday, October 9 at the Charles & Ruth Clemente Center.

The event, “A Toast to Bill Jurgens”, will honor Jurgens, who retired in 2020 after 50+ years of service to the University, including 44 years as Florida Tech’s Athletic Director.

Jurgens helped grow the athletic department to 18 varsity sports programs over his career and was the longest-serving Athletic Director in Sunshine State Conference history.

The celebration begins at 6:00 p.m. on Oct. 9 and will include a cocktail hour, 3-course dinner, professional photographs, as well as a special program to recognize the achievements and legacy of Jurgens.

The individual ticket price for the event is $150 per person. The deadline to RSVP is September 24, 2021.

For more information on the event, or to reserve your seat, click here.

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ABOVE VIDEO: The Florida Tech athletic department has expanded under Bill Jurgens’ watch to include 22 sports and hundreds of student-athletes. The Panthers’ first-ever college football team will debut in the fall. As Florida Tech’s number and variety of sports teams has grown over the years, interacting and building relationships with the student-athletes has taken on added significance for Jurgens. “I always give them advice. They may not ask, but I give it to them,” he said. “I try to set myself in a position to help people.”

Bill Jurgens Tenure at Florida Tech

■ Jurgens arrived at Florida Tech in 1969 when he was hired as the first head crew coach. He became the Athletic Director in 1976.

■ Over Jurgens’ 44 years, Florida Tech won five NCAA national championships – two in men’s soccer, two in women’s golf, and one in swimming.

■ Panther teams have won 35 Sunshine State Conference championships, seven SSC individual championships, 20 Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association championships, and 27 Florida Intercollegiate Rowing Association championships.

■ Additionally, the Panthers won 17 Dad Vail national championships under Jurgens’ tutelage.

■ Amongst those victories were two men’s and women’s overall championship titles in 1982 and 1987 and three men’s overall titles from 1986-88. His tenure was also marked by Varsity Eight wins over Temple University in 1982 and 1988.

■ Jurgens is a member of the Florida Tech Sports Hall of Fame, the Jacksonville University Athletic Hall of Fame, and the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame.

■ He also earned the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame’s Visionary Award in May 2013. In 2016, Jurgens received the Jack Kelly Award from USRowing, which recognizes an individual who has accomplished superior achievements in rowing or serves as an inspiration to American rowers.

■ He served on the board of directors of the U.S. Rowing Association from 1976–87 and was a member of the U.S. Olympic Rowing Committee from 1977–80.

■ He was named to the Dad Vail Rowing Association board of directors in 1990 and continues to serve in this capacity.

■ Jurgens served on the first NCAA Women’s Rowing Championship Committee from 1996–1999 and from 2004–2006 served as chair of the NCAA Division II Women’s Rowing Committee.

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