BOWLING GREEN – Thousands of athletes, coaches, and administrators have contributed to what has been a significant amount of success for Bowling Green State University athletics over the years.
The achievements and accolades those individuals have compiled speak for themselves. League and national championships, undefeated seasons, and success at the professional level are just some of the numerous highlights from those who represented the orange and brown across all sports.
Dozens of former Falcons deserve to be included on the Mount Rushmore of BGSU athletics. The four listed below were part of arguably the greatest accomplishments in school history.
Doyt Perry
A former player, coach, and administrator, Perry’s impact has been felt for decades at BGSU. Perry guided the Falcons’ football team to a 77-11-5 record and five Mid-American Conference titles in 10 seasons from 1955 to 1964, including an unbeaten 9-0 campaign in 1959 in which BGSU was named the small college national champions. Perry played quarterback for the Falcons and was captain of the football, basketball, and baseball teams in 1931-32, and he was also the school’s athletic director from 1965 to 1970. Perry was inducted into BGSU’s hall of fame in 1971 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1988, and the school’s football stadium is named in his honor.
“Doyt Perry set the standard for excellence in all sports at Bowling Green. … Many of our guiding principles today in our program are Doyt Perry values. Like Doyt, we believe in developing our players not just as athletes but as individuals. He emphasized the importance of academics, personal responsibility, and character development. His approach aimed to prepare players for life beyond football. You can see those guiding principles in our football program and throughout our other BGSU athletics programs.” – BGSU football coach Scot Loeffler
Nate Thurmond
Thurmond earned the nickname “Nate the Great” for a reason. Not only did the 6-foot-11 center excel on the hardwood for BGSU’s men’s basketball team; he went on to have a hall of fame NBA career. Thurmond, a three-time first-team MAC selection and an all-American as well, led the Falcons to league championships and NCAA tournament appearances in 1962 and 1963. Thurmond ranks 21st in BGSU history in career points (1,356), as well as first in career rebounds (1,295) and rebounds per game (17.0). The No. 3 overall pick by the San Francisco Warriors in the 1963 NBA draft, Thurmond averaged 15 points and 15 rebounds per game in 14 seasons as a pro. Thurmond, a seven-time all-star, was inducted into BGSU’s hall of fame in 1975 and the NBA hall of fame in 1985. He was named one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history in 1996.
“Nate Thurmond is one of the all-time great basketball players. He has had a lasting impact on Bowling Green State University and continues to be the gold standard for Falcon athletes.” BGSU men’s basketball coach Todd Simon
Jerry York
The winningest coach for a program that the BGSU community passionately cares about, York guided the Falcons’ hockey team to the NCAA Division I national championship in 1984. In 15 years at BGSU, York posted a 342-248-31 record that included four Central Collegiate Hockey Association titles. Among the numerous standouts he mentored at BGSU was 1982 Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner George McPhee. York, who also guided his alma mater, Boston College, to four national championships, is the winningest coach in NCAA hockey history with 1,123 victories. The Watertown, Mass. native was inducted into BGSU’s hall of fame in 2003.
“I don’t think words can even describe what he’s meant to Bowling Green. Obviously, the national championship team and all the accolades he’s done at Bowling Green from a coaching standpoint, but even more so, if you look at what he’s done away from Bowling Green and take it one step further just what type of person he is, he’s the absolute best. I’ve never met a more sincere, kinder person, and obviously I think that relates to on the ice and how he treats his athletes and the people around him.” – BGSU hockey coach and former player Dennis Williams
Ali Mann
Mann was a critical part of not only some of the greatest squads in BGSU women’s basketball history, but MAC women’s hoops overall. The 6-foot-1 star hit two of the biggest shots – a last-minute jumper in a 70-66 win over Oklahoma State and a late 3-pointer in a 59-56 victory over Vanderbilt – in the first two rounds of the 2007 NCAA tournament to help the Falcons become the first MAC school to reach the Sweet 16. A four-year starter who shared MAC player of the year honors as a senior, Mann helped BGSU earn three straight league titles and NCAA tournament appearances from 2005 to 2007. The Falcons went 103-25 in her four years, including 31-4 during their memorable 2006-07 campaign. The 2024 BGSU hall of fame inductee ranks third in program history in career points (1,825), rebounds (911), games started (126), free throws made (482), and free throw attempts (677).
“When you talk about versatility, she was a versatile player. She could play inside, outside. She was tough, she was timely. She’s a big-game-shot hitter, and I think that her competitive streak was phenomenal. I met her on alumni night, and she was fantastic. She’s all in on BG, she always has been. … What she’s done at BG, we aspire to do.” – BGSU women’s basketball coach Fred Chmiel
First Published June 30, 2024, 5:44 p.m.
