Bob Beach, Career Coaching 1969 — 2012

Coach Beach began his teaching and coaching career at Hamburg in 1969 as the Varsity Boy’s Volleyball coach. Two years later he switched to the sport he had played through high school and college, when he became the assistant J.V. football coach under Fred Milliman. In college, Bob fell in love with gymnastics, and was mentored further by Dick Hover, who encouraged him to start the Hamburg High School Gymnastics program which he coached from 1970-2012. When the gymnastics season switched from winter to fall, he chose to give up football and continue with gymnastics. During his career, Bob also coached modified wrestling under Wall of Fame coach Paul Witman. In the early years, Coach Beach also coached gymnastics for the Town Recreation Program and at Southtown’s Gymnastics Club. When Southtown’s Gymnastics closed, Bob took the Girl’s Assistant Track coach position under Bill Malican, and soon after gave up wrestling, to become the Assistant Indoor Track coach also under Bill Malican. In 1993, Bob became the Boys Head Track coach, where along with Bill (the girl’s head coach) they developed a cooperative system of more effectively utilizing all staff by having them specialize in the field events. Along the way there were numerous team championships, and eight times athletes he coached were crowned State Champions. Coach Beach also served as the Section VI Gymnastics Chairperson, and as the ECIC Boys Track Chairperson.