GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University family is mourning the passing of former golf coach Bob Dibble who died on Tuesday at the Laughlin Healthcare Center in Greeneville.
Dibble, age 87, served as golf coach at Tusculum for 28 years where he compiled one of the most successful and decorated coaching careers at Tennessee's most historic university.
From 1989-2017, Dibble coached the men and women's golf teams to 65 tournament titles (44 men, 21 women). He led his teams to eight conference championships while advancing to the national tournament six times.
He was also recognized by his peers as conference coach of the year on nine occasions. He was named the recipient of the Art Argauer Award multiple times, which recognizes the TU athletic department's coach of the year.
During his Tusculum career, he mentored five All-Americans, nine conference players of the year, six All-Region standouts, 56 All-Conference performers, six Academic All-Americans®, nine SAC Scholar Athletes of the Year, 11 Academic All-District selections and 57 All-American Scholars.
He coached eight players who qualified for NCAA Division II regional play, including three-time All-Conference standout Rachel McFarland who advanced to the 2003 NCAA II National Championship where she finished 16th individually.
From 1978-2000, Dibble served as the head golf professional at Link Hills Country Club in Greeneville, a position he would serve with distinction. Junior golf was Dibble's passion as 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.
"I have known Coach Dibble all my life and his impact on me personally and professionally was profound," said Josh Ealy, Tusculum Vice President for Athletics. "Who would have known that the man who coached my youth basketball team, would later be one of my co-workers in college athletics. He impacted so many in his life journey, but none more important than being a husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. I know he is smiling today because he is reunited with the love of his life, Cindy. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Dibble Family and to the many student-athletes who got to call him Coach."
"We have lost one of the legends of both our university and our community," said Dom Donnelly, Associate Athletic Director of Communications. "He was an outstanding golf coach and the success of his teams and student-athletes speaks for itself. But Bob was much more than that. He loved and deeply cared for the players he coached. It was a ministry for him and his beloved wife Cindy… one of which they truly shined. He was a dear friend to us all and we will miss him very much."
In 2014, he was inducted to the Tusculum University Sports Hall of Fame and later to the South Atlantic Conference Hall of Fame in 2017.
In 2007, his SAC coaching peers established the "Bob Dibble Spirit of the Game" Award, which recognized the SAC women's golf student-athlete that demonstrated a genuine love of the game, outstanding character, leadership and places team before self.
The Peoria, Illinois native 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.
In 1998, Dibble was elected to serve as President of the NAIA Golf Coaches Association by his peers. He served as a rules official at the NCAA II Women's National Championship on two occasions and also served on the NCAA II Women's South Region selection committee.
Bob and his late wife Cindy, were married for 65 years until her passing in October 2024. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law: Sandy & Clint Hayes of Rock Hill, South Carolina.; two sons, Tim and Valerie Dibble of Powder Springs, Georgia; and son Chris Dibble & Tammy Lohren of Knoxville; Grandchildren: Riley & Nikki Galloway, Cody & Amber Galloway, Shannon Galloway, Kaitlin Galloway, Maggie Backwinkel, Tim & Marissa Combs, Madison Dibble, Kennedy Kauffman, Jackson Dibble; Great Grandchildren: Annalise Galloway, Les Galloway, Rian Galloway, Ben Galloway, Payton Coats, Kason Coats, Rylan Coats, AJ Combs, Daunte Combs, Forrest Combs, Olivia Combs, Jasmin Combs.
Bob was also preceded in death by two children: Mark Dibble and Brett Dibble.
Jeffers Funeral and Cremation Service is in charge of arrangements and will be announced soon.
