Bishop's University pays tribute to longtime football coach and wife

Homecoming was about more than football and tailgates at Bishop's University on Saturday asfriends, familyand former players gathered to pay tribute to long-time former Gaiters coach Bruce Coulter and his wife Joyce.

With the elderly couple in attendance, Bruce and Joyce's youngest son John Coulter described them as the father and mother of Bishop's football.

"Without them, Bishop's football wouldn't be the same," JohnCoulter said.

"They are special people. It's so great to see all these people here to pay tribute."

As the tribute took place on TD Terrace overlooking the football field named after the couple, the purple-clad crowd got emotional remembering 30 years of dedication by the Coulters.

'More than a coach'

Bruce Coulter began his coaching career at Bishop's in 1962 after spending 10seasons with the Montreal Alouettes as a defensive end. He later worked as the university's athletic director.

When he got to Lennoxville, the football program was still very new and struggling to improve.

By the time he retired in 1990, he was the most successful coach in the university'shistory with 137 wins, 80 losses and twoties.

"With such a small university, it's remarkable what he did with the team," said Bruce Walker, one of Coulter's formerplayers.

"He'd spend hours looking at tape and preparing us for a game."

As he pointed out his picture on the Gaiter's wall of distinction, Walker described a coach he said he was proud to call a friend.

"He was just like one of the guys," said an emotional Walker, recalling laughing with his coach at practices.

"He was a wonderful, wonderful coach. A remarkable man. He treated you with respect, that was the main thing."

Second family for players

The Coulters did more than just guide the players while they were on the field.

They acted as mentors, friends, even as a second family for them.

"They housed homed I should saymany. Many, many of the players over the years," said Ron Perowne, one of the organizers of the event who used to play for and work with Coulter.

"I lived right in front of the Coulters There was never a season where they didn't have someone staying with them. There was never a game night where they didn't have people over afterwards."

Through it all, Bruce was always flanked by his wife. For many of the players, if Bruce was a father figure, Joyce was their second mom.

"She was Bruce's stability," said Senator Larry Smith. Smith played for Bruce in the 60s before being drafter into the CFL by the Montreal Allouettes.

Lessons for life after football

Perowne, who organized the tribute, noted how remarkable it was to see Bruce, despite his health concerns, come out and interact with his friends, family, former players and admirers.

The 88-year-old former coach suffers from diabetes, and had an attack just as the festivities were getting started.

"It's wonderful to see, but I'm not surprised, everyone here loves Bruce and Joyce. He lit up." said Perowne.

"With Bruce[88]and Joyce is 84 thereabouts, you never know. For a lot of us here, it might be the last time we see each other and that's pretty remarkable. That's pretty cool."

The legacy Bruce and Joyce Coulter left behind at the university goes far beyond football as Senator Smith points out. He says he wouldn't be the person he is today without their influence.

"Just looking around you see the way Bruce impacted the lives of these men. He made these menleaders," Smith said.