Bob Bass (2023) - Louisiana Athletics Hall of Fame

Bob Bass

Induction:
2023

Led UL’s golf team to 10 NCAA Tournament appearances and four conference championships in his 18 years as head coach, along with his team winning 18 tournament titles against a strong schedule that was one of his hallmarks … Named the all-time men’s golf coach in Sun Belt Conference history when the league selected its all-time teams in 2006 (the league’s 30^th anniversary), the only UL coach ever to be so honored … Coached two All-America selections (UL Athletic Hall of Fame member Trey Coker in 1992 and Hall of Fame nominee Richard Ainley in 2000), 31 all-conference players and 35 All-Louisiana players, including two LSWA Players of the Year and one Newcomer of the Year … Won three Coach of the Year honors including the Sun Belt honor in 1993 and 1997 … Coached 12 Academic All-Americans including two-time honorees George Cestia, Morgan Landry and Michael Smith … In first season, led USL to the 1991 American South title, its third straight league title and Bass’ first Coach of the Year honor, before following that with three Sun Belt Conference titles in 1993, 1997 and 2007 in his next-to-last season … Team made its first appearance in the Sun Belt in 1992 and finished second in the league tournament while earning an NCAA at-large berth … Following year in 1993, won Sun Belt title by a 25-stroke margin, at the time the second-biggest margin of victory in league history, thanks to the Cajuns having the top three individual finishers in the league tournament … Also won back-to-back titles in its lone home event, the Louisiana Classics in 1993 and 1994 … Has remained active in Cajun golf as well as in the Golf Coaches Association of America, which honored him with its highest award of service at its signature event that Bass has helped stage for years … Honored in 2019 at the Palmer Cup – college golf’s equivalent of the Ryder Cup – with the Arnold Palmer Cup Legacy Award for his service to college golf, becoming only the third-ever winner of that award … 1965 UL graduate and a four-year golf letterman, serving as team captain as a senior and helping set the foundation for a Cajun squad that won the NAIA national title in 1967 along with a host of Gulf States Conference titles. He was also a two-year member of the football team … Past president of the Louisiana Golf Association and served as a board member at Oakbourne Country Club – now the site of UL’s golf facility – and as president of Acadian Hills Country Club and a member of the advisory board at Le Triomphe Golf Club. He was also one of the founders of the Bill Bass Open, UL’s homecoming tournament that honors his late father who served two stints as Cajun golf coach and as the first-ever UL alumni director.