GLASSBORO, NJ – Try as he might, Coach Richard Wackar won’t be able to shun the spotlight this time. Rowan University will honor the coaching legend by naming its recently completed athletic stadium after him at a halftime ceremony during Rowan’s Homecoming football game versus Buffalo State College on Saturday, Oct. 24 at 1:30 p.m.
Wackar served as a health and physical education professor and coach at then-Glassboro State College (now Rowan University) for 32 years—from 1956-88. He enjoyed great success throughout his career, including being the only coach in the New Jersey Athletic Conference to ever have won conference championships in four different sports—football, golf, basketball and cross country.
“Coach Wackar has been a great role model and coach for so many people during his lifetime,” said Rowan President Dr. Donald Farish. “It is a pleasure to honor someone so deserving, yet so humble about his accomplishments. Even though he retired 21 years ago, Coach Wackar remains an institution at Rowan.”
The honor for Wackar comes as Rowan celebrates its 50th football season. Founded in 1947, the Profs have amassed a 299-183-8 record, which ranks them among the top 25 teams in Division III. Due to a lack of players during the Korean War and afterwards, the football program was discontinued in 1950 until 1963. Wackar resurrected the program and led the Profs from 1964-1980, the longest stint of any head coach at the school.
“I’m humbled by the honor, but it is a tribute to the thousands of wonderful students, athletes and coaches I’ve met in my journey at the college and university,” said Wackar.
The stadium will be called the Coach Richard Wackar Stadium at John Page Field. Page was a track athlete who died in a car accident as a student.
Lovingly known as “Coach” by his students, athletes and peers, Wackar coached four different sports. Wackar was Glassboro State’s golf coach for 25 years (1965-88), amassing over 200 wins and leading the Profs to seven NJAC Championships. His student-athletes collected 14 individual championships, three of his golfers were All-Americans and seven went on to play professionally.
As football coach (1963-80), Wackar guided the Profs to five conference titles and one Eastern Conference championship. Four of his players received All-America honors and one played professional football. Wackar is responsible for reinstituting the University’s football program in 1963 after it was discontinued following the 1950 season.
Wackar was the men’s basketball coach at Glassboro State from 1956-62. His teams won three state championships and finished second three times. He led the Profs to a 100-53 record during his seven seasons as head coach. Responsible for starting the sport at Glassboro State, Wackar coached the men’s cross country team from 1957-62. He guided the Profs to two NJAC Championships, two district titles and one appearance in the national cross country championship.
An outstanding teacher at the undergraduate and graduate levels, Wackar is recognized for his expertise in health education. He helped establish the health and physical education undergraduate major and graduate program at the University. Wackar’s input led to the development of several athletic facilities at Glassboro State.
Today, Wackar remains an active member of the University’s Brown and Gold Gridiron Club. One of the organization’s founding members, he is still a role model and mentor for alumni and current players. Wackar’s presence in the club continues to bridge the gap between players of the past, present and future. He also hosts tailgate parties during home football games on Glassboro State’s old football field, located behind the current scoreboard. Wackar funds the gatherings with his own money, serving coffee and sandwiches to faculty, alumni and friends.
In 1993, Wackar was inducted into the Rowan-Glassboro State Sports Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the South Jersey Football Coaches, Lion (Middletown North High School), Gloucester County, South Jersey Chapter of the National Football Foundation and South Jersey Coaches Halls of Fame.
In 1982, he received the Professional Achievement Award from the New Jersey Association for Health and Physical Exercise Research and Development. Wackar was the Touchdown Club of Southern New Jersey’s Man of the Year in 1978. He was named Co-Coach of the Year by the New Jersey College Football Writers Association in 1977.
Prior to Glassboro State, Wackar was a teacher and coach (football and track) in the New Brunswick School District from 1951-56. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University in 1951 and completed his master’s in 1955. At Rutgers, Wackar lettered four years in football and track and two years in basketball. In football, he was an All-East selection and played in the North-South Shrine game in 1950. A co-captain on the track team his senior season, Wackar competed in the shot put, discus and hammer. He played center and forward on the basketball team.
Wackar attended Middletown Township High School in Leonardo, N.J., and graduated in 1945. He played football, basketball, baseball and track, compiling 12 varsity letters. Wackar was captain of the football, basketball and track teams. His senior year, he was class president and the recipient of the Rutgers Upson Scholarship.
Wackar resides in Pitman, N.J., with his wife, Jean.
