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Bob Barton retires from coaching after 33 years
Bob Barton has been a part of Penn State Abington for 35 years. He has been actively involved in coaching and being a teacher, as well as a boss to some, a mentor to many and friend to all. He has been able to touch the lives of hundreds of students here on campus.
On October 26, 2008 at University Park, while at the PSUAC Tennis Championships, Bob Barton announced his official retirement from coaching after 33 years. Being surrounded by his fellow colleagues and his Penn State Abington tennis team there was no better place to make the announcement. In honor of his long tenure of coaching at Penn State Abington he was presented the Nittany Lion statue for all of his efforts, achievements and dedication to the well being of the student-athletes at Penn State Abington.
“Bob Barton it the ultimate of first class,” Jack Monick said. Monick is the Athletic Director at Penn State Wilkes-Barre and has known Bob for 24 years through baseball, basketball and tennis. “You can argue with him and love him at the same time. He was always there for the kids and did everything for them. He is certainly a role model for excellence.”
If you were to look up the definition of modest in the dictionary you may come across the name Bob Barton. Bob Barton is the true meaning of modest. He has such a humble opinion of himself so much that many aren’t aware that he has been named Coach of the Year on several occasions. If you were to ask him when he received such an honor he would look at you and say that he doesn’t remember, it isn’t about him it’s about the kids on the team and their success both on the floor and in the classroom. That certainly holds true when you walk into his office in the Athletics Building. Bob’s office is covered by pictures of all of the student-athletes that he has touched throughout their short period of time here on campus.
“I've been fortunate to be a part of many students' academic growth and development. My rewards have always been measured in the personal and professional successes my players have achieved as Penn State graduates,” said Bob Barton
Why would Bob Barton be retiring from coaching? Well, if you were to ever ask him why, he would give you two reasons … timing and growth. Bob agrees that timing is key. He knows where the athletic program is going and he feels that new life is needed in the coaching staff. “The kids deserve better than an old man with a ball machine yelling at them,” Barton said. “I'll certainly miss my daily teaching/coaching contact with my players, but I'm optimistic that our growing athletic program will provide greater athletic opportunities for current and future Penn State Abington student athletes.”
Barton’s coaching resume is extremely long but yet a well distinguished one. He has coached for 33 years, from 1975-2008, which equals 63 seasons. He was the coach of the baseball, softball, men’s basketball, and tennis teams. He led many of them to several Eastern Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference (EPCC), Commenwealth Campus Athletic Conference (CCAC) and Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) championships.
Barton’s first experience as a head coach at Penn State Abington was with the baseball team. He coached baseball from 1979 to 1986; where he compiled an overall record of 70-87 throughout the 14 seasons of both fall and spring ball. At that time the team competed in the Commenwealth Campus Athletic Conference (CCAC) in the fall & the Eastern Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference (EPCC) in the spring.
In 1987 he was the softball coach. He coached them for one season and compiled a record of 19-6 and captured the Pennsylvania Collegiate Athletic Association (PCAA) Championship.
The men’s basketball team was also a team that was privileged to have Bob Barton as a coach. Here is where he split his title and was the assistant coach for 12 years (1975-1985) and then stepped up as the head coach for 10 additional years. He was the head coach from 1986-1990 & 1991-1997. He compiled an overall record of 125-132 where the team made it to the CCAC Final Four in 1988, 1992, 1993 & 1996. In both 1988 & 1993, they came back to Penn State Abington as the CCAC Champs.
Bob Barton’s final stint as a head coach was with the tennis team. He was the tennis coach for 18 years; from 1989-90; 1991-2008. They were the EPCC Champs in 1993 and the CCAC-PSUAC Champions in ’91, ’93, ’02, ’05, ’06 and ’07. He coached for a total of 26 seasons where he compiled a 139-68 record.
“I've been blessed to have the opportunity to coach at Penn State Abington (Ogontz) for many years,” Barton said. “Our athletic program has been able to provide healthy and rewarding athletic opportunities for a generation of worthy students.”
“Mr. Barton is one of the most influential coaches I have ever had,” said Jackie Wise. Wise is a former student-athlete from Penn State Abington where she played tennis from 2004-2007 under Bob Barton. “He wasn’t just my tennis coach, but also a great friend. He is a coach that not only cares about his players and their performance as part of the team, but is supportive of their work in the classroom.”
It doesn’t matter to Bob Barton how many championships and accolades have been achieved over the years while coaching at Penn State Abington. His main concern was being able to touch the student-athletes for the short period of time they were on campus.
“I will remain Penn State Abington's biggest fan and will continue to support our students in all ways possible,” Barton said.
