Washington State University Athletics
Ray Nagel To Be Inducted Into NACDA HOF
March 12, 2005
PULLMAN, Wash. -- - Former Washington State University Director of Athletics Ray Nagel is among 19 highly respected athletics administrators who have been selected for induction into the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Hall of Fame, it was announced Wednesday by NACDA President Gene DeFilippo, director of athletics at Boston College.
Nagel, a California native and UCLA graduate, was WSU's director of athletics from May of 1971 until taking on the same position at the University of Hawai'i in the summer of 1976. He was replaced at WSU by Sam Jankovich.
Nagel is credited with the development of the Cougar Club while leading the WSU athletic department. Among the coaches he hired was long-time basketball coach George Raveling and football coach Jackie Sherrill.
In addition to Nagel, the 2006 Hall of Fame class includes: Merrily Dean Baker, Michigan State University; Marino Casem, Alcorn State University; George Chryst, University of Wisconsin Platteville; Vin Cullen, Community College of Rhode Island; Bob Dinaberg, Santa Barbara City College; Jack Doyle, University of South Dakota; Art Eason, William Paterson University; Herb Eisele, John Carroll University; John Gagliardi, St. John's University (Minn.); Fred Gruninger, Rutgers University; James Houdeshell, University of Findlay; Betty Jaynes, James Madison University; Karol Kahrs, University of Illinois; Frank Lignelli, Clarion University; Ron Maestri, University of New Orleans; Frank Rienzo, Georgetown University; Bill Steinbrecher, Valparaiso University; and Dick Tamburo, Arizona State University.
Nagel was a standout quarterback and tailback at UCLA, playing for the legendary Red Sanders in the late 1940's. After assistant coaching stings with UCLA and Oklahoma, he served as head football coach at the University of Utah (1958-65) and at the University of Iowa (1965-71). While at Utah, his teams were 42-39-1 in eight years. His 1964 Ute team finished 9-2 with a win over West Virginia in the Liberty Bowl. It was Utah's first bowl game appearance. Nagel's Hawkeye teams were 16-32-1 in five seasons.
Following his service at Hawaii (1976-83), he was executive vice-president of the Los Angeles Rams (1983), vice president for the Bank of Hawaii (1984-89) and then was executive director of the Hula Bowl (1990-95).
Additional honorees will be selected next year to join the inaugural class of 19 administrators. The inductees will be honored next year at NACDA's 41st Annual Convention, June 20-23, 2006 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Nagel and wife Shirley are retired and living in San Antonio, Texas, when not spending their time with their children and grandchildren.
