Mike Organ

morgan@tennessean.com





Legendary Tennessee State and Olympic track coach Ed Temple has died. He was 89.

Temple, originally from Harrisburg, Pa., served as the women's track and field coach at TSU from 1953 to 1994.

“Words cannot in any fashion or manner express how deeply saddened we are over the loss of our beloved Ed Temple,” said TSU President Glenda Glover. “The TSU family has truly lost a precious gem and contributor to the history and legacy that is TSU. Most importantly, our hearts go out to his family.”

RELATED: Rexrode: Ed Temple was a pioneer, acheiver

Temple's impact on the TSU track program last long after he retired.

Current Tigerbelles coach Chandra Cheeseborough-Guice was one of his star athletes.

“I always looked at coach Temple as a father figure and a man of truth and wisdom,” she said. “He is one of the finest people I have ever had an opportunity to meet. He really brought out the best in me. He made me realize my potential that had not been tapped.”

Temple arrived at TSU, then known as Tennessee A&I, in 1946 on a track scholarship.

After graduating in 1950 Temple remained at TSU looking for a coaching job.

When word that Temple wanted to be a coach reached the university's administration, Temple was offered the position at TSU. His starting salary was $1,800 annually.

Temple gave the women's track team the nickname Tigerbelles and promptly turned the team into a national power.

In 1960 Temple had become so well known for what he had accomplished at TSU, he was named head coach of the U.S. Olympic Women's Track and Field Team in Rome.

Temple returned as the U.S. coach in the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo.

U.S. athletes won 23 Olympic medals (13 gold, six silver, four bronze) under Temple.

His teams also won 34 national team titles and 30 Pan-American Games medals.

Temple returned to the Olympics as an assistant coach in the 1980 games.

Several of Temple's athletes at TSU also competed in the Olympics, including Wilma Rudolph, Wyomia Tyus and Willie White.

Rudolph, a Clarksville native, was the first American woman of any race to win three track and field gold medals at a single Olympic Games.

Tyus became the first woman to successfully defend an Olympic 100-meter gold medal.

A total of 40 Tigerbelles represented TSU in Olympic competition.

Temple led TSU to 24 national titles.

In 2012, Temple was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame.

He also was a member of the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, Tennessee State University Hall of Fame, National Track and Field Hall of Fame, Ohio Valley Conference Hall of Fame, Harrisburg Central Area Chapter Hall of Fame, Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, Black Athletes Hall of Fame and Communiplex National Sports Hall of Fame.

Eight Tigerbelles have been inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame, including Rudolph, Tyus, Edith McGuire and TSU's current women's track and field coach, Chandra Cheeseborough.

In 2015 a statue of Temple was unveiled on the greenway near the outfield at First Tennessee Park.

"To see what (Temple) accomplished in that era, not only in terms of segregation but also of disdain for women's athletics, is amazing," said local businessman Bo Roberts, who spearheaded the effort to build the statue. "He is such a pioneer in both."

Tennessee Titans president Steve Underwood also released a statement on Temple's death.

“I am saddened to hear the news of Coach Temple’s passing. I knew him for close to two decades from his time with the Sports Authority, where he provided important input through the years. His significant contributions to so many different groups are legendary. I always enjoyed my conversations with him and admired his sense of humor. He had such a great way about him, I could see how he was able to connect with his athletes and help them reach the heights that they did. We also feel for Tennessee State University for the loss of such an iconic figure. As an organization, our thoughts are with Coach Temple’s family and all of those who he touched through a lifetime of success.”

Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 and on Twitter @MikeOrganWriter.