Bethany Hall of Famer Bob Goin ’59 dies at 83

BETHANY, W.Va. – Former Bethany College Coach and Athletic Director Robert “Bob” G. Goin ’59 died suddenly on Oct. 12 at the age of 83.

“The Bethany College family is heartbroken with the passing of Coach Goin,” Director of Athletics Steve Thompson said. “Coach played a significant role in the lives of countless Bethanians well beyond his 20 years on our campus. Those relationships continued throughout his life and it was never more evident than when Nancy and Coach shared stories about their time at Bethany during a recent visit.”

After graduating from Bethany College in 1959 as a standout athlete in football and basketball, Goin returned to his alma mater in 1960 to serve in athletics for 16 years.

Goin started off his professional career at Bethany as an assistant coach and became head baseball coach (1962-1969). He quickly took on the role of head football coach (1963-1972) the next year.

“He was a visionary leader that impacted intercollegiate athletics in countless ways,” Thompson said. “He would always show great passion and emotion for his alma mater, Bethany College. Our thoughts and prayers are with Nancy and the entire Goin family.”

Under Goin’s leadership, the Bethany football team won back-to-back Presidents’ Athletic Conference football championships in 1965 and 1966 and scored its only undefeated season in the history of Bethany football in 1966.

Additionally, the baseball team won its first PAC baseball championship in 1965.

Goin took over as athletic director from 1970 to 1976 and was inducted into the Bethany Athletics Hall of Fame in 1979.

After leaving Bethany, Goin became athletic director at California University of Pennsylvania, Florida State University, and University of Cincinnati, in which he was inducted into the Cincinnati Hall of Fame and named athletic director emeritus to the university in 2005.

Goin’s involvement with Bethany continued as he served on the Bethany College Board of Trustees from 2004-2008 and remained active with the college up until his death.

Goin retired to Ponte Vedra Beach in 2006 and is survived by his wife, Nancy, and four children.

Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Nov. 10 at Bethany College’s Hummel Field House and at Ponte Vedra United Methodist Church at 2 p.m. Nov. 23. He will be interred at Ponte Vedra Valley Cemetery in a private service, at a later time.

Bethany College has established the Bob Goin Scholarship Fund in his honor. The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Bethany College (31 E. Campus Drive, Bethany, WV 26032) with the Bob Goin Scholarship Fund indicated in the comment section of the check or online donation.

ABOUT BETHANY COLLEGE

Bethany College, founded in 1840, is the oldest private college in West Virginia. The Bethany experience focuses on academic excellence in the area of liberal arts and prepares students for a lifetime of work and a life of significance.