SPRING 2008 Community College Magazine - Northampton ...

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A tribute to Bill Bearse
Athletics have ruled at Northampton since those long-gone Quonset huts north of Green Pond Road still smelled of fresh
paint. Those were the days of flag football between faculty and students that would become prime nostalgia for early
alumni. But we went from pick-up games to the real deal when Bill Bearse became captain of our team; and as the College’s
second athletic director, Bearse was committed from the start. Bearse, who joined the Northampton family in August 1972,
retired at the end of the fall 2007 semester, after 35 years of growing Northampton’s athletics program. Without question,
athletics has kept pace with the growth of the College itself. Even as enrollment swelled from roughly 2,800 students back
then to more than 9,600 today, Bearse doubled the number of varsity teams on campus from six to 12. His athletes have
brought home 28 state titles and 68 conference tournament wins. And along the way, he coordinated over 5,000 athletic
events. “Bill provided leadership,” says Dr. Richard Richardson, the College’s first president. “He was the first person who
came with a professional view of the situation and the knowledge to do something about it. He was a key fi gure in the
development of athletics at Northampton.”
Bearse joined NCC as a physical education instructor and baseball his transplanted citizenship. “It’s a great place to live,” Bearse says
coach. He came straight from Eastern Kentucky University, where of the Valley, “and a great place to raise children. I’ve made a lot
he had heard about the job while a graduate assistant completing of friends up here.”
a six-year education specialist degree, the Ed.S. That degree came If Bill Bearse says he has “friends,” it only goes to show
on the heels of his master’s in physical education from the same that his flair for the understatement matches his ability at all
school. Georgia-born and bred, the move north must have taken things sports. During the recent dedication of NCC’s Athletic Hall
some bracing for the warm-blooded athlete. But, fortunately for of Fame, into which Bearse was inducted along with 10 other
us, Bearse not only “fell in love with the Lehigh Valley,” he just outstanding athletes and coaches, nearly every honoree had words
plain fell in love. of thanks and praise for the role Bearse played in their success. He
The coach was teaching a course in golf, just one of his other took the stage for his own honors to a standing ovation.
roles at NCC. A young fairway enthusiast, Karen Glagola, was Representatives from colleges across the state drove to
looking to improve her game. No one talks about her grade in our campus to pay tribute to Bearse’s leadership in the PCAA
Bearse’s class, but it is obvious that she had all the right clubs in (Pennsylvania Collegiate Athletic Association), of which he
her bag – the couple eventually married, and they’ve been teeing was one of the founding fathers and for which he served as its
off together ever since. Mr. and Mrs. Bearse also have two sons: commissioner numerous times. Mike Stanzione, athletic director
Kevin, 15, a sophomore at Liberty High School, and Billy, 18, of Penn College in Williamsport, credited Bearse’s “tremendous
a Liberty graduate. Billy is a freshman on the Spartans baseball influence” in the EPCC (Eastern Pennsylvania Collegiate
team. But last spring, still in high school, Bill Jr. kicked off his own Conference). Bearse provided leadership for the EPCC’s growth
sports legacy, and made Bill Sr. quite proud, by pitching a no-hit and for its redirection and reorganization. He also served as its
game for the Liberty Hurricanes. president 15 of the 30 years that NCC has been a member.
Now, even with retirement upon him and dreams of hitting the Charles “Chuck” Bell, head golf coach of the Community
golf links whenever the spirit hits him, he has no plans to reverse College of Allegheny County, North Campus, in Pittsburgh, and
A 35-year career. His athletes have brought home 28 state titles
and 68 conference tournament wins. And along the way, he
coordinated over 5,000 athletic events.
UPPER LEFT-PHOTO BY PHILIP STEIN/ALL OTHERS-NCC STOCK/ARCHIVE
SPRING 2008 ● NCC
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