Colorado University Athletics
Bob Beattie, right, with the late Jimmie Heuga (left) and current CU head coach Richard Rokos.
CU Coaching Legend Bob Beattie Passes Away
April 02, 2018 | Skiing
Coach That Led CU To Its First National Championship Was 85
BOULDER — Bob Beattie, who was the head coach of the University of Colorado's first national championship team in any sport, passed away at his son's home in western Colorado on Easter Sunday (April 1). He was 85.
CU's head ski coach for nine years (1957-65), he led the Buffaloes to back-to-back NCAA championships in 1959 and 1960. In a dual role, he was named as the head coach of the U.S. Olympic Alpine Ski Team in 1961; he presided over the first medals won by U.S. skiers in the Olympics, when Billy Kidd won the silver and Jimmie Heuga the bronze in the slalom at Innsbruck in 1964.
The Buffs also finished as the national runner-up three times under Beattie's watch, and regionally, won four Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association titles (with three more second place efforts). His skiers earned 13 first-team All-America honors (three second-team), and produced 13 individual NCAA champions. Just 23 when he was named CU's ski coach, he came to Colorado in 1957 after serving for one year in the same capacity at Middlebury, his alma mater.
"Bob was a wonderful man, I had the opportunity to meet with him on several occasions," said CU athletic director Rick George. "He loved the Buffaloes, would always want to talk about all our programs, and was Mr. Colorado when it came to skiing, not only for what he did for our program back in its early years, but for the state."
He resigned his post at CU after the 1965 ski season devote his full time to the National Ski Team (which he did until 1969), when he began a long broadcasting career with ABC Sports, mainly covering skiing and other Olympic sports. He was a ski commentator for ABC's coverage of the 1976, 1980 and 1984 Winter Olympics, and also reported for other ABC programs including Wide World of Sports. By chance, he was in the CU press box for the Oct. 25, 1986 football game against No. 3 Nebraska. When it became apparent that the Buffs were going to upset the Cornhuskers (20-10), he phoned ABC, which arranged for a live feed from its Denver affiliate on site and the last few minutes of the game were televised nationally.
Beattie served as the president of World Wide Ski Corporation, was founder and Executive Director of the World Pro Racing Tour, Executive Director of the International Ski Racers Association, Commissioner of NASTAR, founder of Bob Beattie Summer Racing camps at Mt. Bachelor, and organized such national ski racing programs as the Michelob Light Town Challenge and Appleton Rum Runs. He also authored three books on skiing and ski racing.
Beattie, who retired to Woody Creek outside of Aspen, was also responsible for helping to develop and begin the Alpine World Cup competition.
"Bob was always enthusiastic. He was well organized and had the determination to achieve any goal he set for himself and his ski teams," said Gary Gisle, a member of CU's first national championship team under Beattie. "He was a great recruiter and promoter of CU. He represented the University in an outstanding fashion. Above all, he was a great motivator and teacher.
"His mantra for our team was, "when the going gets tough, tough guys get tougher.' With that, he coached us to always do our best, to win, and to succeed. For me, his lessons and coaching carried over and served me well in my personal and professional lives. It has been fun to stay in touch with Bob over the past 61 years; to call him, email him, and see him, and to talk about the days when we truly put CU on the national ski map. He will be greatly missed."
At Middlebury, Beattie was a three-sport star, playing on the line in football and on the tennis team in addition to skiing. He used to refer to himself as the, "grubby guard" when reminiscing about his football career.
Beattie was inducted into the National Ski Hall of Fame in 1984, the Colorado Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame Colorado Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame in 1986, the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in 1993; the Aspen Hall of Fame in 2004, and the CU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014 (in its 10th class; the entire '59 ski team was inducted in 2006 as part of the school's sixth class).
The family is planning a public memorial in the fall. He is survived by his son Zeno, daughter Susan, six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Additional comments:
Bill Marolt, CU Skier/Ski Coach/Athletic Director (1963-1996)
"The old coach was some kinda guy, he really was. He was clearly a visionary. He saw things, saw potential and had the passion, drive, intensity and the tenacity to take on every challenge. When he came to CU, he was more than the ski coach, he was also the freshman football coach and the intramurals director. In those days, you had to do multiple things to be a coach in the athletic department.
"One of his proudest accomplishments was that he won two national championships and it with all American kids. One of the all-time great rivalries in college sports, even though in a lesser followed sport, was CU-Denver in skiing. We had some great battles through the years. When Beats recruited Buddy (Werner) to come to CU that was the start of his path to develop not only the CU program but the U.S. National team as well. A lot of us followed Buddy to CU, and Boulder literally became the home of the U.S. Ski Team for several years. He had a lot of clever ideas, from how to keep us in school and eligible while traveling the world to train to where we lived on campus.
"He took the sport from a small regional program to a national one. At the end of the day, his real true love was ski racing. Bob could talk all day about it, college or pro. His passion helped make it a true international sport in this country. Though you race as an individual, he drove home the point that it was a team sport with his inspirational personality. And he never let anybody deter him. He inspired a lot people to do things that they didn't believe they could do themselves and took them to those places."
Richard Rokos, CU Head Ski Coach (1991-present)
On his memories of Bob Beattie: "Everything that he was about, his stubbornness, determination, his friendliness and good spirit, everything what a coach should have. I was fortunate enough to meet him and pretty much all of the people of his era right when I took over the job here in 1990 and since skiers are a small and very tight family we became instant friends. I consider Bob as a mentor, teacher, someone to look at and learn from along with him obviously Jimmie Heuga, Bill Marolt and the rest of the guys of that era. Bob with his experience and with his background, he was an icon from the very beginning."
On him listening to the 1964 Winter Olympics where Bob Beattie coached the U.S. National Team: "In '64, I was way deep behind the iron curtain with very little access to the outside world, but I was listening to the broadcast from the '64 Olympics from Innsbruck and Americans made a very severe impression on everybody there because they came, they were unknown, under estimated and they end up making a far bigger impact on everything than expected. It was very impressive, not that I took the blueprint out of it at that time, at that time I didn't have any idea that I would end up in this country, but it was definitely a display of very unexpected and I would say spiritual force on the American side. Those guys they came with a different attitude, they came with a coach who was one of them and he was buddies with everybody and it ended up to make a difference in the end of results. He was definitely recognizable individual from the very beginning."
On Bob Beattie attending CU's 2017 Ski Ball and honoring him as one of CU's coaching legends: "I don't think any one of us expected this would so happen so quickly and unexpectedly. We saw each other a couple times a year, occasionally I would travel to Woody Creek when he was home just for private discussions on skiing and it goes beyond the regular working relationship. What happened last year, it was great to see him there in good spirits. His body was not supporting everything, but he had a clear mind and was very articulate, at least last year, no question."
On what he'll remember most about Bob Beattie: "He's been an icon, he is pretty much the roots of American skiing and its success in the world and he'll always be memorized that way. It was an honor to know him, honor to be a part of his legacy and this institution can be proud of the fact that he's been working with CU, CU athletes and something to remember for all of us."
Larry Zimmer, Voice of the Buffaloes/KOA Sports Director (1971-2004)
"I first met Bob through my wife, Brigitte, who knew him well from her background working in the Olympics. We became good friends through the years of my covering World Cup events and the events on his World Pro Tour. We served together on the selection committee for the Colorado Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame. He always asked me about CU football and despite all of the success he had coaching skiing, was proud of the fact that he once was on the football staff. I can picture the scene in heaven with Bob and his friend and old ski coaching rival, DU's Willy Schaeffler, drinking a toast to a life well lived."
John Dakin, Vice President, Colorado Ski & Snowboard Museum & Hall of Fame
"The 'Coach' left us Sunday evening at the age of 85, following a lifetime dedicated to shaping the course of skiing and ski racing throughout the U.S. and the world. There was literally no facet or level of our sport that Bob had not touched during his illustrious career, from Olympics to NASTAR. We will most certainly miss his passion, drive and vision, but we will also cherish the wonderful memories and stories that come easily to mind whenever we think of Bob. We will also rededicate ourselves to continuing to build on his legacy. We will pass along any information we receive relative to memorial service plans.
CU's head ski coach for nine years (1957-65), he led the Buffaloes to back-to-back NCAA championships in 1959 and 1960. In a dual role, he was named as the head coach of the U.S. Olympic Alpine Ski Team in 1961; he presided over the first medals won by U.S. skiers in the Olympics, when Billy Kidd won the silver and Jimmie Heuga the bronze in the slalom at Innsbruck in 1964.
The Buffs also finished as the national runner-up three times under Beattie's watch, and regionally, won four Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association titles (with three more second place efforts). His skiers earned 13 first-team All-America honors (three second-team), and produced 13 individual NCAA champions. Just 23 when he was named CU's ski coach, he came to Colorado in 1957 after serving for one year in the same capacity at Middlebury, his alma mater.
"Bob was a wonderful man, I had the opportunity to meet with him on several occasions," said CU athletic director Rick George. "He loved the Buffaloes, would always want to talk about all our programs, and was Mr. Colorado when it came to skiing, not only for what he did for our program back in its early years, but for the state."
He resigned his post at CU after the 1965 ski season devote his full time to the National Ski Team (which he did until 1969), when he began a long broadcasting career with ABC Sports, mainly covering skiing and other Olympic sports. He was a ski commentator for ABC's coverage of the 1976, 1980 and 1984 Winter Olympics, and also reported for other ABC programs including Wide World of Sports. By chance, he was in the CU press box for the Oct. 25, 1986 football game against No. 3 Nebraska. When it became apparent that the Buffs were going to upset the Cornhuskers (20-10), he phoned ABC, which arranged for a live feed from its Denver affiliate on site and the last few minutes of the game were televised nationally.
Beattie served as the president of World Wide Ski Corporation, was founder and Executive Director of the World Pro Racing Tour, Executive Director of the International Ski Racers Association, Commissioner of NASTAR, founder of Bob Beattie Summer Racing camps at Mt. Bachelor, and organized such national ski racing programs as the Michelob Light Town Challenge and Appleton Rum Runs. He also authored three books on skiing and ski racing.
Beattie, who retired to Woody Creek outside of Aspen, was also responsible for helping to develop and begin the Alpine World Cup competition.
"Bob was always enthusiastic. He was well organized and had the determination to achieve any goal he set for himself and his ski teams," said Gary Gisle, a member of CU's first national championship team under Beattie. "He was a great recruiter and promoter of CU. He represented the University in an outstanding fashion. Above all, he was a great motivator and teacher.
"His mantra for our team was, "when the going gets tough, tough guys get tougher.' With that, he coached us to always do our best, to win, and to succeed. For me, his lessons and coaching carried over and served me well in my personal and professional lives. It has been fun to stay in touch with Bob over the past 61 years; to call him, email him, and see him, and to talk about the days when we truly put CU on the national ski map. He will be greatly missed."
At Middlebury, Beattie was a three-sport star, playing on the line in football and on the tennis team in addition to skiing. He used to refer to himself as the, "grubby guard" when reminiscing about his football career.
Beattie was inducted into the National Ski Hall of Fame in 1984, the Colorado Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame Colorado Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame in 1986, the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in 1993; the Aspen Hall of Fame in 2004, and the CU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014 (in its 10th class; the entire '59 ski team was inducted in 2006 as part of the school's sixth class).
The family is planning a public memorial in the fall. He is survived by his son Zeno, daughter Susan, six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Additional comments:
Bill Marolt, CU Skier/Ski Coach/Athletic Director (1963-1996)
"The old coach was some kinda guy, he really was. He was clearly a visionary. He saw things, saw potential and had the passion, drive, intensity and the tenacity to take on every challenge. When he came to CU, he was more than the ski coach, he was also the freshman football coach and the intramurals director. In those days, you had to do multiple things to be a coach in the athletic department.
"One of his proudest accomplishments was that he won two national championships and it with all American kids. One of the all-time great rivalries in college sports, even though in a lesser followed sport, was CU-Denver in skiing. We had some great battles through the years. When Beats recruited Buddy (Werner) to come to CU that was the start of his path to develop not only the CU program but the U.S. National team as well. A lot of us followed Buddy to CU, and Boulder literally became the home of the U.S. Ski Team for several years. He had a lot of clever ideas, from how to keep us in school and eligible while traveling the world to train to where we lived on campus.
"He took the sport from a small regional program to a national one. At the end of the day, his real true love was ski racing. Bob could talk all day about it, college or pro. His passion helped make it a true international sport in this country. Though you race as an individual, he drove home the point that it was a team sport with his inspirational personality. And he never let anybody deter him. He inspired a lot people to do things that they didn't believe they could do themselves and took them to those places."
Richard Rokos, CU Head Ski Coach (1991-present)
On his memories of Bob Beattie: "Everything that he was about, his stubbornness, determination, his friendliness and good spirit, everything what a coach should have. I was fortunate enough to meet him and pretty much all of the people of his era right when I took over the job here in 1990 and since skiers are a small and very tight family we became instant friends. I consider Bob as a mentor, teacher, someone to look at and learn from along with him obviously Jimmie Heuga, Bill Marolt and the rest of the guys of that era. Bob with his experience and with his background, he was an icon from the very beginning."
On him listening to the 1964 Winter Olympics where Bob Beattie coached the U.S. National Team: "In '64, I was way deep behind the iron curtain with very little access to the outside world, but I was listening to the broadcast from the '64 Olympics from Innsbruck and Americans made a very severe impression on everybody there because they came, they were unknown, under estimated and they end up making a far bigger impact on everything than expected. It was very impressive, not that I took the blueprint out of it at that time, at that time I didn't have any idea that I would end up in this country, but it was definitely a display of very unexpected and I would say spiritual force on the American side. Those guys they came with a different attitude, they came with a coach who was one of them and he was buddies with everybody and it ended up to make a difference in the end of results. He was definitely recognizable individual from the very beginning."
On Bob Beattie attending CU's 2017 Ski Ball and honoring him as one of CU's coaching legends: "I don't think any one of us expected this would so happen so quickly and unexpectedly. We saw each other a couple times a year, occasionally I would travel to Woody Creek when he was home just for private discussions on skiing and it goes beyond the regular working relationship. What happened last year, it was great to see him there in good spirits. His body was not supporting everything, but he had a clear mind and was very articulate, at least last year, no question."
On what he'll remember most about Bob Beattie: "He's been an icon, he is pretty much the roots of American skiing and its success in the world and he'll always be memorized that way. It was an honor to know him, honor to be a part of his legacy and this institution can be proud of the fact that he's been working with CU, CU athletes and something to remember for all of us."
Larry Zimmer, Voice of the Buffaloes/KOA Sports Director (1971-2004)
"I first met Bob through my wife, Brigitte, who knew him well from her background working in the Olympics. We became good friends through the years of my covering World Cup events and the events on his World Pro Tour. We served together on the selection committee for the Colorado Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame. He always asked me about CU football and despite all of the success he had coaching skiing, was proud of the fact that he once was on the football staff. I can picture the scene in heaven with Bob and his friend and old ski coaching rival, DU's Willy Schaeffler, drinking a toast to a life well lived."
John Dakin, Vice President, Colorado Ski & Snowboard Museum & Hall of Fame
"The 'Coach' left us Sunday evening at the age of 85, following a lifetime dedicated to shaping the course of skiing and ski racing throughout the U.S. and the world. There was literally no facet or level of our sport that Bob had not touched during his illustrious career, from Olympics to NASTAR. We will most certainly miss his passion, drive and vision, but we will also cherish the wonderful memories and stories that come easily to mind whenever we think of Bob. We will also rededicate ourselves to continuing to build on his legacy. We will pass along any information we receive relative to memorial service plans.
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