Guy Busch (2023) - Hall of Fame - Michigan State University Athletics

Guy Busch

Induction:
2023
Class:
1968

Guy Busch
Men's Soccer (1965-67)
St. Louis, Mo.
MSU Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2023

HALL OF FAME FEATURE: CLASS OF 2023

One of the most decorated players in Michigan State men's soccer history, Guy Busch is one of the trailblazers of the storied Michigan State men's soccer program.

Over 50 years after the hanging up his boots, Busch remains the Spartan leader in points scored with 130. He is also second all-time in goals scored with 54 and tied for fourth in assists with 22.

When Michigan State Vice President and Director of Athletics Alan Haller called Busch about the upcoming honor, the word that Busch used to describe himself was "overwhelmed." Haller caught the unsuspecting Busch on the golf course.

"I was overwhelmed; there are a whole lot of thoughts rushing your mind," Busch recalled. "The experience I had at MSU was so great, and so positive. The opportunity to go there at that time in life for me and my family was a dream. All I could think about was the opportunity to be able to go there and what it meant. So, after I hung up, I proceeded to hit two balls out of bounds, and I think a five-foot drive before I got it together. So that kind of describes the emotion."

Guy Busch Hall of Fame Graphic

Busch was a three-time letterwinner, including serving as a captain of the 1967 team.

The St. Louis native wasted no time bursting onto the scene as a sophomore in 1965. He scored a team-leading 24 goals in his first season in the Green and White, which still stands as the second-most in school history. He ended the campaign with 56 points, which also still stands second in the Spartan record books. His offensive expertise landed him a spot on the All-America first team as well as the NSCAA All-Region first team.

As a team, the Spartans finished the 1965 season as the National Runners-up.

He showed no signs of slowing down during his junior season in 1966. Busch continued to lead the team in scoring with 49 points. He was second behind Tony Keyes with 20 goals and tied for the team lead with nine assists. His consistency led him to his second-straight first-team NSCAA All-Region honor, as well as NSCAA honorable mention All-America honors.

During the 1967 campaign, Busch scored 14 goals as a senior to go along with five assists. The Spartans outscored their opponents, 73-11, and finished with a stellar record of 12-0-2. They settled a score with Long Island with a 4-0 win in an NCAA semifinal. Michigan State battled to a 0-0 tie against St. Louis to share the NCAA Championship. This was the Spartans' first soccer national championship.

Busch is the fourth member of the men's soccer program to enter the Hall of Fame, joining Gene Kenney, Joe Baum and Trevor Harris. Busch was a teammate of Baum and Harris on the 1967 team that was coached by Kenney. The first to be inducted into the MSU Hall of Fame was Kenney in 2005. Harris followed in 2016 with Baum completing the trio in 2017.

"I'm thrilled to be joining Joe Baum, who I've known for many years. He was here behind me when we were players, and I've known him all my life," Busch said. "I was thrilled to be joining him. Gene Kenney, I remember attending his induction. I was at Kellogg Center, and it was just a little bitty affair. Trevor, I went to his induction because he couldn't come since he had some serious health issues. Those are the three in the Hall of Fame. And I'm glad to join them, and I'm thrilled. I am kind of the next man up, maybe one more of them will get in too."

Busch is grateful for his time at Michigan State for the fellow student-athletes, coaches and administrations that he encountered during his time as a Spartan. It wasn't just the soccer team that helped shaped his life, but he credits his experiences with MSU programs from the football team to the wrestling squad that made him who he is today.

"It was a fun time to be there," Busch said. "And if you really look at fall of 1965 through '68 and you see how many Big Ten Champs and National Championships MSU won, it was like no other era. To be there and be part of that was really cool for me. I did get to work for a little bit in the athletic director's office. I worked for Burt Smith when he was an assistant to (Athletic Director) Biggie Munn. Seeing it at that level was fun for me, a great experience. I really have to thank Biggie Munn. He started writing checks, and we started getting scholarships. If he doesn't do that, I don't get to MSU. It was life changing for me and my family."