Ed
Temple
Two-time Olympic coach (1960, 1964) Rome 1960 Olympic Games Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games
Athlete Bio#
Age
Died (Aged 89)
1927-2016
Hometown
Nashville, TN
Education
Beechcroft High School (Columbus, Ohio); Harrisburg High School (Harrisburg, Pa.) Tennessee State University
Quick Facts
- Was a standout athlete and state-champion sprinter at Harrisburg High School
- Posted a personal-best 9.7 second 100-yard dash while attending Tennessee State University
- Began coaching at Tennessee State University in 1950, when his team consisted of just two athletes
- Worked at the campus post office to make ends meet during the beginning of his coaching career
- Received a master’s degree in sociology from Tennessee State in 1953
- Served as classroom professor for many years in addition to coaching
- Head coach of the U.S. Olympic women’s track teams in 1960 and 1964
- Outspoken advocate for equality during the civil rights movement
- Retired from coaching in 1994
- Father to two children, Edwina and Lloyd.
Hall Of Fame Bio #
Ed Temple was head coach of the U.S. track and field team at two Olympic Games (1960, 1964), during which his athletes brought home 23 medals. He was the most celebrated women’s Track and Field coach in the United States, having coached athletes such as Wilma Rudolph and Wyomia Tyus. Born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Temple helped produce 40 Olympians while coaching at Tennessee State University, and his athletes won 13 gold medals, six silvers and four bronzes. Thirty-nine of those Olympians graduated with bachelor’s degrees, 28 earned master’s degrees and eight earned medical degrees or doctorates. His teams were known as the Tigerbelles, and throughout his coaching career, won 36 national titles: 16 indoor, 13 outdoor and five junior. Temple also served as head coach of the U.S. Track and Field teams at the Pan-American Games in 1959 and 1975. In 1978, the new Tennessee State track was dedicated to Temple and named the Edward S. Temple Track. In 2015, a statue of Temple was installed at the Nashville Sounds minor league baseball team’s stadium. He was inducted into six hall of fames, including the National Track and Field Hall of Fame.
