Former Tusculum College head golf coach Bob Dibble has passed away at the age of 87.
He coached at Tusculum for 28 years and also served as head professional at Link Hills Country Club in Greeneville from 1978 to 2000.
Visitation will be Friday, February 28 from 4-7 PM at Jeffers Funeral and Cremation Service downtown. Graveside services will be conducted Saturday, March 1 at 11:00 AM in Graceland Memorial Gardens. The Greene County Honor Guard and United States Marine Corp will convey military honors.
AT TUSCULUM
He directed the Pioneer golf fortunes for 28 seasons. Dibble, a native of Peoria, Illinois , built a tradition of success after arriving at the Greeneville, Tennessee campus in 1989.
He coached the men’s team for 28 years and started the women’s program in the 1997-1998 season. Dibble had a reputation of building winners. His teams captured eight conference titles and two region championships during his tenure. He guided the TC men’s squad to five consecutive national tournament appearances from 1993-1997.
While at Tusculum, he coached the men and women’s teams to 54 tournament titles (36 men, 18 women).
He was honored by his peers as conference coach of the year on nine occasions during his career, including the 2011-12 campaign as he was named the South Atlantic Conference Women’s Golf Coach of the Year for a second time (He earned the inaugural SAC Coach of the Year accolade during the 1999-2000 season).
In 2014, he was inducted to the Tusculum College Sports Hall of Fame. He was also named the 2015 recipient of the Tennessee PGA Distinguished Career Award. The Distinguished Career Award recognizes current or former Tennessee PGA Section members who have had outstanding careers as PGA Professionals based on service to his or her club, course or employer, service and leadership to the Association, community service, professional playing record and teaching ability. The Distinguished Career Award acknowledges these Tennessee PGA Professionals as vital and significant contributors to the game of golf.
In 2014-15, he led the Tusculum men to one their best campaigns in school history as the Pioneers captured a single-season record five team titles, including the South Atlantic Conference championship. With the SAC title, TC earned the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Tournament for the first time in program history. The Pioneers were led by All-Region and All-SAC standout Brad Hawkins, who carded a 72.26 stroke average, which is the second lowest in school history and the best by a TC junior. Hawkins captured medalist honors twice, while junior Nick Forsberg birdied the final hole to finish first at the SAC Championship.
The 2011-12 women’s program enjoyed its best campaign in school history as the Pioneers earned their inaugural berth to the NCAA Division II Tournament. TC finished third or better in six of its 11 events, including wins at the Anderson Invitational and the Agnes McAmis Memorial, shooting a school record 593. Emee Herbert and Jillian Corum each earned All-South Atlantic Conference first team honors. Herbert established a school single-season record with her 76.71 scoring average (25th in NCAA II) and was named the SAC Freshman of the Year. Corum won medalist honors at the McAmis Memorial, shooting a 36-hole TC record 141 (-3).
The 2010-11 men’s team won four tournaments during the year. He posted men’s victory No. 25 when the Pioneers won the Anderson University Invitational to open the season. Led by All-Conference performer Nick York, Tusculum finished runner-up for the South Atlantic Conference championship.
The 2010-11 women’s squad had a banner campaign, winning two tournaments at the Anderson Invitational and the Maryville College Invitational. The team was led by Corum, who captured medalist honors twice.
The 2008-09 men’s team won three tournaments and Chase Carroll turned in a sensational season, carding a program-and South Atlantic Conference-record scoring average of 72.08 to lower his career mark to 74.29, which is first in school history and second in the league record book. Carroll was also selected to the Division II PING All-America Men’s Golf Team by the Golf Coaches Association of America, earning honorable mention recognition while securing a spot on the All-Southeast Region Team. Carroll was also named to the CoSIDA Academic All-America® first team, while earning SAC Player of the Year honors and being recognized as the SAC Scholar Athlete for a third straight year.
Tusculum’s 2009 women’s team posted four top-five finishes, including a fourth-place showing at the conference tournament as sophomore Emily Palenkas concluded the two-day event in eighth place to earn a spot on the All-Tournament Team. Mary Ann Vizcarrondo garnered All-SAC First Team honors for the second straight season, while senior Suzanne Sisco was honored as the inaugural recipient of the “Bob Dibble Spirit of the Game Award”, which is named in honor of the long-time Tusculum coach and is selected by the South Atlantic Conference women’s golf coaches.
In 2008, the men’s team won two tournaments and was regionally ranked through most of the season. Chris Wynne had a sensational campaign, establishing a school record 72.82 scoring average, while earning South Atlantic Conference Player of the Year honors, becoming the second player in school history to garner this award. Wynne and Carroll both earned All-Conference recognition, while Carroll was named the SAC Scholar Athlete for Men’s Golf for a second straight year. Carroll was also named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District first team, while also garnering a spot on the GCAA All-America Scholar Team. Carroll and Wynne both advanced to the NCAA II Southeast Regional, as the TC duo finished sixth and 10th, respectively for individual honors.
The women’s team also enjoyed success in 2008, finishing in the top half of the field in seven of its nine tournaments, including a second place showing at the SAC Championship. It was the second straight year TC finished runner-up for the league title. Mary Ann Vizcarrondo had a banner season, earning All-SAC first team honors, while rookie Emily Palenkas earned SAC All-Tournament honors.
In 2007, he guided both the men and women’s squads to runner-up performances at the South Atlantic Conference Championships. On the men’s side, Chase Carroll won the men’s individual title while Shannon Palenkas captured the women’s title. Palenkas was also named the SAC Women’s Golf Player of the Year. Carroll was recognized for his success in the classroom, as he was named the SAC Scholar Athlete of the Year. Carroll and Chris Wynne were invited to play in the NCAA Division Men’s Golf Southeast/Atlantic Super Regional. Wynne and Carroll were both named to the All-SAC Team. Palenkas and teammate Amanda Bowen also earned All-Conference recognition.
In 2006, Dibble was named the SAC Men’s Golf Coach of the Year as two of his golfers – Nick Kinzer and Chris Wynne – received bids to participate in the NCAA II Regional. Kinzer tied for 14th, while Wynne tied for 31st. On the women’s side, Palenkas earned SAC All-Tournament honors with a fourth-place finish at the conference championship. Palenkas and Bowen were named All-South Atlantic Conference, while Kinzer earned the same honor for the men.
The 2005 edition of the TC men’s golf squad mounted a final round charge and earned runner-up honors at the 2005 SAC Championship.
In the 1999-2000 season, the TC women’s squad shot a then school record 661 to claim the inaugural South Atlantic Conference women’s golf championship. The Pioneers placed five golfers in the Top 10, including Morgan Campbell, who finished third and earned a spot on the SAC All-Tournament team. During the regular season, TC boasted a 28-9 head-to-head record while capturing two tournaments and finished no worse than third all season. Three Pioneers were named to the first-ever women’s golf All-SAC Team. Dibble himself was recognized by his peers as the first recipient of the South Atlantic Conference Women’s Golf Coach of the Year Award.
He has mentored three All-Americans, 47 All-Conference players, four conference players of the year and four SAC Freshmen of the Year.
He has coached eight players who qualified for NCAA Division II region play, including three-time All-Conference standout Rachel McFarland who advanced to the 2003 NCAA II National Championship where she finished 16th individually. Also in 2003, Dibble mentored All-SAC first team standouts Brent Dyson and Sasha Catron, who advanced to the NCAA Regional Tournament. For his efforts, Dibble was named the SAC Men’s Golf Coach of the Year in 2003. Catron would again return to the Super Regional in 2004.
Dibble’s players have also excelled in the classroom as 27 players have garnered All-America Scholar Athlete recognition, while five of his squads have captured the SAC Team Academic Award. He has also guided six SAC Scholar Athletes of the Year.
Dibble served as head professional at Link Hills Country Club in Greeneville, Tenn. from 1978 to 2000. He turned pro in 1957 and became a Professional Golf Association member in 1964. Dibble also squeezed in a stint serving in the United States Marine Corps.
Dibble served as Midwest PGA President from 1971-73 while living in Missouri and was a club pro in Florida as well. A veteran of the PGA Winter Tour, Dibble has qualified for the PGA National Club Pro Championship on three occasions. Junior golf has been Dibble’s passion for over 20 years. He has built one of the state’s strongest youth programs at Link Hills. Dibble has been honored on four occasions with the Tennessee PGA Junior Golf Leader of the Year Award. In 1982, he won the Tennessee PGA Horton Smith Award for his contributions to the game of golf.
In 1998, Dibble was elected to serve as President of the NAIA Golf Coaches Association by his peers. He served as a rules official at the NCAA II Women’s National Championship twice and served on the NCAA II Women’s South Region selection committee
