College honors sports legends
Behringer, Longnecker this fall

Grove City College is recognizing two legendary figures in the history of its varsity athletic programs - R. Jack Behringer, former athletic director and physical education department chair, and James Longnecker, one of the College’s winningest coaches – with the renaming of the baseball field and the competition swimming pool this fall.

The baseball field was renamed the R. Jack Behringer Field at a dedication ceremony Oct. 9. The competition swimming pool will be named the James E. Longnecker Competition Pool during a dedication ceremony at the Longnecker Invitational Dec. 4.

“Both of these individuals during their respective 40-year careers made lasting, significant, even historical contributions to the College’s sports programs in particular and the institution in general,” said Grove City College President Richard G. Jewell ’67 in his recommendation for this honor.

Behringer (pictured) served as Grove City College’s athletic director and chairman of the Department of Physical Education for 40 years. Under his strong leadership, both the varsity, intramural and academic programming grew in numbers and popularity.

Hired as head football, basketball and track coach in 1956, Behringer rejuvenated the football program by leading the team to its first winning record (5-3) in eight seasons in 1957. The 17-year “Behringer Era” in football was highlighted with the program’s first All-American, running back Jake LaMotta ’60, and its first undefeated season in 40 years in 1966, when the team finished 8-0-1.

Behringer began as athletic director in 1957. That year, there were eight varsity teams with 77 intercollegiate contests scheduled. Rifle, baseball and wrestling were added as varsity sports during the next several years, and nine women’s teams attained varsity status in the 1970s. When he retired in 1996, there were 18 varsity sports.

He helped engineer the College’s entrance into the Presidents’ Athletic Conference in 1984. Behringer also resurrected the College’s baseball program in 1959 and coached the team until 1988. He retired as the program’s all-time wins leader with 236. He also coached the basketball team to a 12-6 mark in 1956-57. During his career as athletic director, he oversaw the renovation and expansion of the Physical Learning Center, the construction of the Philips Field House and the relocation of the football field and track.

A “player’s coach” long before the term became part of the sports vernacular and one of the College’s winningest coaches, Longnecker concluded his 40-year coaching career in 1997. During his career, he built the swimming and diving program into a national power and accumulated a three-sport collegiate record of 687 wins, 177 losses and one tie – a .795 winning percentage.

Longnecker is best remembered for his 40-year record as head coach of the men’s swimming and diving team. With a 366-93 (.797) record at retirement, he stood as the winningest active swim coach in NCAA Division III and among the top five in all NCAA classifications. In 1977, he was named “Master Coach” by the American College Coaches Association, and in 1987, he received the organization’s “Distinguished Coach” award. He coached 44 NCAA All-Americans and three national diving champions. He guided Grove City to six undefeated seasons, and proposed, organized and hosted the inaugural NCAA College Division Swimming and Diving Championships in 1964.

This three-sport mentor also directed the men’s track and field teams for 40 years, accumulating a career record of 224-53-1 (.808). Grove City posted 13 undefeated seasons during Longnecker’s career. His teams captured seven Presidents’ Athletic Conference track titles after Grove City joined the league in 1984.

In 12 seasons as cross country coach, 1960-1971, Longnecker’s runners posted five WPIAC titles, won one Penn-Ohio Conference championship and advanced to nationals twice. His teams amassed a 97-31 (.758) record, including one undefeated season.

In 2007, both Behringer and Longnecker were inducted with the inaugural class of the Grove City College Athletic Hall of Fame.