BOB SUTER
Inducted in 2007
Bob was born on February 23,1937. He attended Janesville Public Schools, graduating from Janesville High School in 1956. While there he lettered in football, basketball and baseball.
Bob attended UW-LaCrosse, UW-Whitewater, and Milton College. Bob played for legendary coaches Forest Perkins, Bill Vickroy, and Kenneth "Red" Oberbrunner. He graduated from UW-Lacrosse in 1961.
After serving six months with the U.S. Army Bob returned to Janesville to begin his teaching and coaching career. He taught physical education and was head basketball coach and assistant football coach at Marshall Jr. High School.
In 1964 Bob was offered a graduate assistantship at Western Michigan University, where he earned an MA degree in physical education. While there, he coached football, basketball, and baseball at their university high school.
Bob returned to Janesville and began a remarkably successful teaching and coaching career in 1964, being appointed head baseball coach and assistant in football and basketball at Janesville High School. He has coached baseball for thirty-seven years, compiling a record of 468-215, highlighted by state championships in 1983, 1984, and 1998. His teams were runners-up in 1999 and 2000; also Bob's teams won 12 conference championships. He was conference coach of the year 9 times, district coach of the year 3 times, and state coach of the year in 1984 and 1999. Bob was inducted into the Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in 1995. He was named the NFHS Central Section Coach of the Year in 2002.
In 1968 Suter was named head football coach at Janesville Craig. While holding this position for 18 years, he compiled a record of 87-70-1, with 4 conference championships, with a state qualifier in 1983. He was a member of the WFCA for twenty-four years, Conference Coach of the Year four times, and WFCA District Coach of the Year 1979.
In 1986 Suter became the head basketball coach at Craig, a position he still holds, and has compiled a 350-124 record, with 7 conference titles, 7 state entries and 14 sectional appearances. He has been named Big 8 Coach of the Year, 7 times.
Bob is forever grateful to his family, friends, assistant coaches, and players for their love and support shown throughout the years and to the WFCA for bestowing upon him this great honor.
Tag(s): Hall of Fame