Thomas Rosandich
Thomas P. Rosandich (died 2020) was an American sports administrator and coach.
Biography
[edit]Rosandich career began in the early 1950s, with his involvement in football and track and field coaching, which earned him induction into the Helms Track and Field Hall of Fame.[1] Among the athletes he coached were notable Olympic and world record holders such as Bob Mathias, Josh Culbreath, Al Cantello, and Bob Gutowski.[1]
In addition to his coaching roles, Rosandich served as a Sports Ambassador for the United States Department of State, where he was tasked with building international relations through sport in 43 nations.[1][2] During his time in the Marine Corps, he led the national team of then-Malaya to international competitions and was later appointed as the National Track and Field coach for Indonesia.[1] During his tenure in Indonesia, Rosandich contributed to the establishment of the Southeast Asian Games.[1]
Following his overseas assignments, Rosandich founded the Olympia Sport Village in Upson, Wisconsin, which served as an all-season sports camp. He also founded the Paavo Nurmi Marathon in Hurley, Wisconsin, in 1969.[1]
Rosandich held the position of Athletic Director at both the University of Wisconsin–Parkside and the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, where he made contributions to the development of sports facilities and programs.[1][3]
In response to issues identified in the U.S. Olympic team's performance at the 1972 Munich Games, Rosandich founded the United States Sports Academy in 1972.[1][4] The Academy expanded its international presence, starting with a contract with the State of Bahrain in 1976 to oversee their national sports programs.[1]
Rosandich also established the Academy's Awards of Sport in 1984 to recognize significant contributions to the sports profession.[1] and in 2017, was inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "THOMAS ROSANDICH – ISHOF | International Sports Hall of Fame | United States". Retrieved January 2, 2024.
- ^ Newsroom, Por (July 12, 2021). "The passing of United States Sports Academy Founding President Dr. Thomas P. Rosandich". infobae. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ "Athletic Director Quits". The New York Times. March 22, 1975. Retrieved January 2, 2024 – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ "Dr. Thomas P. Rosandich dies at 88 from natural causes". August 30, 2020. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
- ^ Dr. Robert Goldman (March 13, 2017). "2017 International Sports Hall of Fame Inductees". www.sportshof.org. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
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