GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Bob Dibble, who has served as the golf coach at Tusculum College for the last 28 years, announced his retirement Monday. His retirement will come on May 31, 2017 at the conclusion of the spring golf season, ending one of the most decorated and successful coaching tenures at Tennessee's most historic college.
The Peoria, Illinois native is wrapping up his 28th year with the men's program and his 20th guiding the fortunes of the women's program. His teams have captured a combined eight conference titles and two region championships during his tenure. He guided the TC men's squad to five consecutive national tournament appearances from 1993-1997.
"With the retirement of Bob Dibble, a coaching legend will be stepping down," said Tusculum athletic director Doug Jones. "Bob has always been true to Tusculum College, his student-athletes, and the game he has given so much to over the years. He has been an outstanding teacher, coach, mentor, and has cared deeply about the success of his student-athletes in academics, athletics, and most importantly in life."
Since his arrival on the Greeneville, Tennessee campus in 1989, Dibble has coached the men and women's teams to 59 tournament titles (38 men, 21 women). This past fall, the Tusculum women captured three tournament trophies, while the men accounted for two tournament titles.
He has been honored by his peers as conference coach of the year on nine occasions, including the 2011-12 campaign as he was named the South Atlantic Conference Women's Golf Coach of the Year for a second time. He earned the inaugural SAC Coach of the Year accolade during the 1999-2000 season.
In 1978, Dibble and his family made the move to Tennessee where he served as the head golf professional at Link Hills Country Club in Greeneville, a position he would serve with distinction until stepping down in 2000. He would move his full coaching operation to the Tusculum campus later that year.
"From a professional standpoint, my time at Tusculum has been the best years of my life," said Dibble. "I was a club pro for 40 years which a thoroughly enjoyed, but coaching college golf was much better than even that. I have truly enjoyed coaching, but I feel it's time to turn it over to the younger generation. My knees are getting a little slower and the kids are getting a little faster. I just feel it's time."
In 2014, he was inducted to the Tusculum College Sports Hall of Fame. He was also named the 2015 recipient of the Tennessee PGA Distinguished Career Award. The Distinguished Career Award recognizes current or former Tennessee PGA Section members who have had outstanding careers as PGA Professionals based on service to his or her club, course or employer, service and leadership to the Association, community service, professional playing record and teaching ability. The Distinguished Career Award acknowledges these Tennessee PGA Professionals as vital and significant contributors to the game of golf.
In 2014-15, he led the Tusculum men to one their best campaigns in school history as the Pioneers captured a single-season record five team titles, including the South Atlantic Conference championship. With the SAC title, TC earned the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Tournament for the first time in program history. The Pioneers were led by All-Region and All-SAC standout Brad Hawkins, who carded a 72.26 stroke average, which is the second lowest in school history and the best by a TC junior. Hawkins captured medalist honors twice, while junior Nick Forsberg birdied the final hole to finish first at the SAC Championship.
The 2011-12 women's program enjoyed its best campaign in school history as the Pioneers earned their inaugural berth to the NCAA Division II Tournament. TC finished third or better in six of its 11 events, including wins at the Anderson Invitational and the Agnes McAmis Memorial, shooting a school record 593. Emee Herbert and Jillian Corum each earned All-South Atlantic Conference first team honors. Herbert established a school single-season record with her 76.71 scoring average (25th in NCAA II) and was named the SAC Freshman of the Year. Corum won medalist honors at the McAmis Memorial, shooting a 36-hole TC record 141 (-3).
The 2010-11 men's team won four tournaments during the year. He posted men's victory No. 25 when the Pioneers won the Anderson University Invitational to open the season. Led by All-Conference performer Nick York, Tusculum finished runner-up for the South Atlantic Conference championship.
The 2010-11 women's squad had a banner campaign, winning two tournaments at the Anderson Invitational and the Maryville College Invitational. The team was led by Corum, who captured medalist honors twice.
The 2008-09 men's team won three tournaments and Chase Carroll turned in a sensational season, carding a program-and South Atlantic Conference-record scoring average of 72.08 to lower his career mark to 74.29, which is first in school history and second in the league record book. Carroll was also selected to the Division II PING All-America Men's Golf Team by the Golf Coaches Association of America, earning honorable mention recognition while securing a spot on the All-Southeast Region Team. Carroll was also named to the CoSIDA Academic All-America® first team, while earning SAC Player of the Year honors and being recognized as the SAC Scholar Athlete for a third straight year.
Tusculum's 2009 women's team posted four top-five finishes, including a fourth-place showing at the conference tournament as sophomore Emily Palenkas concluded the two-day event in eighth place to earn a spot on the All-Tournament Team. Mary Ann Vizcarrondo garnered All-SAC First Team honors for the second straight season, while senior Suzanne Sisco was honored as the inaugural recipient of the "Bob Dibble Spirit of the Game Award", which is named in honor of the long-time Tusculum coach and is selected by the South Atlantic Conference women's golf coaches.
During his coaching tenure at Tusculum, Dibble has built many friendships with opposing coaches, administrators and student-athletes in the game which he says have been very special to him.
"My relationship with other coaches and teams has been terrific," Dibble added. "We all play against each other and try to beat each other, but we are all friends. We all go to dinner a lot with the teams. It's a whole different ball game at the Division II level. It's a great atmosphere which I will miss very much."
In 2008, the men's team won two tournaments and was regionally ranked through most of the season. Chris Wynne had a sensational campaign, establishing a school record 72.82 scoring average, while earning South Atlantic Conference Player of the Year honors, becoming the second player in school history to garner this award. Wynne and Carroll both earned All-Conference recognition, while Carroll was named the SAC Scholar Athlete for Men's Golf for a second straight year. Carroll was also named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District first team, while also garnering a spot on the GCAA All-America Scholar Team. Carroll and Wynne both advanced to the NCAA II Southeast Regional, as the TC duo finished sixth and 10th, respectively for individual honors.
The women's team also enjoyed success in 2008, finishing in the top half of the field in seven of its nine tournaments, including a second place showing at the SAC Championship. It was the second straight year TC finished runner-up for the league title. Vizcarrondo had a banner season, earning All-SAC first team honors, while Emily Palenkas earned SAC All-Tournament honors in her rookie season
In 2007, he guided both the men and women's squads to runner-up performances at the South Atlantic Conference Championships. On the men's side, Carroll won the men's individual title while Shannon Palenkas captured the women's title. Palenkas was also named the SAC Women's Golf Player of the Year. Carroll was recognized for his success in the classroom, as he was named the SAC Scholar Athlete of the Year. Carroll and Wynne were invited to play in the NCAA Division Men's Golf Southeast/Atlantic Super Regional. Wynne and Carroll were both named to the All-SAC Team. Palenkas and teammate Amanda Bowen also earned All-Conference recognition.
In 2006, Dibble was named the SAC Men's Golf Coach of the Year as two of his golfers - Nick Kinzer and Wynne - received bids to participate in the NCAA II Regional. Kinzer tied for 14th, while Wynne tied for 31st. On the women's side, Palenkas earned SAC All-Tournament honors with a fourth-place finish at the conference championship. Palenkas and Bowen were named All-South Atlantic Conference, while Kinzer earned the same honor for the men.
The 2005 edition of the TC men's golf squad mounted a final round charge and earned runner-up honors at the 2005 SAC Championship.
In the 1999-2000 season, the TC women's squad shot a then school record 661 to claim the inaugural South Atlantic Conference women's golf championship. The Pioneers placed five golfers in the Top 10, including Morgan Campbell, who finished third and earned a spot on the SAC All-Tournament team. During the regular season, TC boasted a 28-9 head-to-head record while capturing two tournaments and finished no worse than third all season. Three Pioneers were named to the first-ever women's golf All-SAC Team. Dibble himself was recognized by his peers as the first recipient of the South Atlantic Conference Women's Golf Coach of the Year Award.
He has mentored three All-Americans, 47 All-Conference players, four conference players of the year and four SAC Freshmen of the Year.
He has coached eight players who qualified for NCAA Division II region play, including three-time All-Conference standout Rachel McFarland who advanced to the 2003 NCAA II National Championship where she finished 16th individually. Also in 2003, Dibble mentored All-SAC first team standouts Brent Dyson and Sasha Catron, who advanced to the NCAA Regional Tournament. For his efforts, Dibble was named the SAC Men's Golf Coach of the Year in 2003. Catron would again return to the Super Regional in 2004.
Dibble's players have also excelled in the classroom as 27 players have garnered All-America Scholar Athlete recognition. He has also mentored six South Atlantic Conference Scholar Athletes of the Year.
"I am very proud of the golfers who have come through the program and have moved on to being successful in the game of life. I will cherish those relationships all my life," Dibble added.
He turned pro in 1957 and became a Professional Golf Association member in 1964. Dibble also squeezed in a stint serving in the United States Marine Corps. He served as Midwest PGA President from 1971-73 while living in Missouri and was a club pro in Florida as well. A veteran of the PGA Winter Tour, Dibble qualified for the PGA National Club Pro Championship on three occasions.
Junior golf has been Dibble's passion during his career. He built one of the state's strongest youth programs at Link Hills. Dibble was honored on four occasions with the Tennessee PGA Junior Golf Leader of the Year Award. In 1982, he won the Tennessee PGA Horton Smith Award for his contributions to the game of golf.
"Working at Tusculum College has given me a chance to extend the area of golf which has been my highest priority in the junior game", said Dibble. "I was always big with junior golf and when I left Link Hills it just allowed me to extend it into collegiate golf. Tusculum has been wonderful to me and it has been the best job I have ever had."
Dibble played his collegiate golf at Central Missouri State in Warrensburg, Missouri. He also attended the University of Missouri at Kansas City where he lettered on the basketball hardwood for the Kangaroos.
In 1998, Dibble was elected to serve as President of the NAIA Golf Coaches Association by his peers. He has served as a rules official at the NCAA II Women's National Championship twice and also served on the NCAA II Women's South Region selection committee.
Dibble has been married to his wife Cindy for over 50 years and the couple has three children: Sandy, Tim and Chris. His son, Chris, is the head golf professional at Holston Hills Country Club in Knoxville. The Dibbles are also the proud grandparents of nine grandchildren. Cindy has been a fixture with the Tusculum golf programs as well, traveling on many trips with the team and has served as an official scorer at TC's home tournaments.
"Coach Dibble has and always will be a teacher of life and that is evident of the success his former players have achieved since leaving Tusculum," added Jones. "I am so proud to call him my friend and wish him, Cindy and their family nothing but happiness as this next chapter of their lives begins."
Jones indicated that a national search for a new golf coach will be conducted later this spring.
