Feb. 13, 2012

Depew to retire at end of 2012 season

Gene Depew (left), Bucknell head coach, announced that he will retire following the 2012 season.

A 1971 graduate of Bucknell, Depew has coached at his alma mater for more that 40 years, including the past 31 as head coach. He has earned 570 victories, better than five times the amount of any other Bison baseball coach. In 2003, the baseball facility at Bucknell was renamed Eugene B. Depew Field in his honor.

Over the past 16 seasons, the Bison have won six regular-season crowns and five Patriot League Tournament titles, most recently in 2010. Depew has led Bucknell to five NCAA Tournament appearances, including a 7-0 win at fourth-ranked Florida State in 2008. Depew has been named Patriot League Coach of the Year four times.

Bucknell director of athletics and recreation John Hardt said a national search will begin immediately and the new head coach is expected to be named prior to the start of the 2012-13 academic year.

“It is a very difficult decision to step away from something that you love doing and have done for a long time, but I have decided to make this my senior year,” Depew was quoted as saying in a school release. “It has taken me 45 years to graduate, but it has been time well spent. I have had the privilege to coach some of the finest people anywhere, and I have learned from each of them. So much has changed over the years, but the quality of the people has remained consistent. What I will miss most is the daily interaction with players and coaches, but I look forward to spending time with my family and pursuing hobbies. In the meantime, we have business to take care of this spring, and I am looking forward to enjoying every day as we try to win another league championship and the opportunity to compete in the NCAA tournament.”

A native of Mifflintown, Pa., Depew earned bachelor and master of science degrees in education from Bucknell. Depew was a three-year letterwinner in football for the Bison, serving as co-captain as a senior. The defensive lineman was honorable mention all-conference in 1969.

Depew returned as defensive line coach and was an assistant football coach until 1992. He became a baseball assistant in baseball in 1974 under Hall-of-Famer Tommy Thompson. Before the 1982 season, Depew was selected to take over for Thompson as head baseball coach.

Depew and his wife, Debbie, have two children who attended Bucknell, as Erin graduated in 2006 and William in 2010. Depew has two brothers who played football at Bucknell, Terry (’73) and Alvin (’81).

(photos courtesy of Bucknell Media Relations Office)