Michigan State University Athletics
Men's Golf Tradition Established by One Coach, One Decision
4/26/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
April 26, 2004
EAST LANSING, Mich. - One decision. That is all it took for an assistant basketball coach to impact an entire athletic program. It was not the basketball program that felt the most impact, however. The golf program was forever changed with the arrival of Bruce Fossum.
Nearly four decades ago, former coach Fossum was at a crossroads in his career. In 1965, then athletic director Biggie Munn approached Fossum with an offer to coach the men's golf team.
With Eastern Michigan and Northern Illinois offering head basketball coaching positions, Fossum had to decide between staying with basketball and making the transition to golf.
"As soon as I committed myself to the golf program and took the job, it changed my whole life," Fossum said. "It put me into a new life, a life that my wife and I have really loved. Nothing but good has come out of it."
The decision not only changed Fossum's career pathway, his wife Mary Fossum also found a new career. Munn wanted a women's golf program and told Fossum he wanted Mary to coach.
After some convincing from husband Bruce, Mary Fossum accepted the offer in 1973 and a legendary coaching duo was born.
"I got her going. She had never coached in her life or ran a golf program," Bruce Fossum said. "We were kind of a team."
The team had a 17-year overlap in coaching tenures, working together nearly every day. With a combined 47 years of coaching experience, the Fossum coaching team became legendary. With Bruce's induction into the Golf Coaches Hall of Fame in 1988 and Mary's in 1998, the Fossum's are the only husband-wife combination in the Hall of Fame.
Though Fossum said he probably would have ended up coaching basketball had he not accepted the head golf coach position, it was a talk with his minister that ultimately swayed his decision.
"Having breakfast with my minister one morning, he said 'What have you been doing your whole life?' I said 'Teaching,'" Fossum said. "My minister replied 'Well is there any question in your mind? Take the golf thing."
The "golf thing," as it turns out, led Fossum to monumental opportunities. In his career, Fossum was the Chairman of the NCAA Golf Committee from 1971-75, president of the Golf Coaches Association, and was inducted into the Golf Coaches Hall of Fame in 1988.
"It changed my whole life," Fossum said. "I got involved with the administration end of it and it led me to a new career."
His new career lasted 23 years, including a Big Ten Championship in 1969 and nine trips to the NCAA Tournament. Despite tournament titles and accomplishments, winning is not Fossum's fondest memory.
"All the tournament wins were good, but the process of building the program and then trying to maintain it, that's the fun," Fossum said.
In building and maintaining the program, Fossum created a tangible part of his legacy that is still a part of the Michigan State golfing tradition today.
In 1966, Fossum organized the first Spartan Invitational. The tournament, now known as the Fossum/TaylorMade Invitational, is in its 37th year and has become one of college golf's premier events.
"In 1966, I couldn't envision it going this far," Fossum said. "I'm happy I'm alive in order to see it."
Upon its creation, Fossum wanted to give Michigan schools an opportunity to come here and play. Fossum also wanted to have a spot on the collegiate schedule and bring attention to the Spartan golf program.
"The goal was to build our own program first and to put a little spotlight on us and to help the recruiting process," Fossum said.
Through the years, the tournament has evolved with the face of the game. The Spartan Invitational originally attracted as many as 30 schools, including many small schools within the state. Two divisions had to be created within the tournament; one for colleges and another for universities.
Since then, MSU's home invitational has become an event attracting only Division-I schools.
"That was the big evolvement, the dissipation of smaller schools," Fossum said.
In 1996, the tournament celebrated its 30th anniversary and was added to the College Golf Foundation/Rolex Golf Tour as one of the 75 collegiate golf tournaments.
Fossum attributes the evolvement of the tournament to the golf course and quality field.
"As a coach it gives you an opportunity to compete on a wonderful golf course against a good field," Fossum said. "The strength of the field is what helps attract people to come in and play."
Though Fossum is no longer the head golf coach, he still teaches lessons and is involved with the MSU golf program. In preparation for the Kepler Intercollegiate, he talked with current players about the course and how each hole sets up.
Retirement in 1989 may have ended his celebrated coaching tenure, but his love for the game has only grown. A passion for teaching got him into the game, kept him in the game, and will always be a part of MSU's legendary former head golf coach.
"I will probably die giving a golf lesson," Fossum said.
Written by Chris Richards, MSU Sports Information
