Aug. 22, 2014
Highly successful as a coach and an athlete, San Jose State University track and field coach Ernie Bullard died on Thursday, August 21, at age 77 in Stockton, Calif., from complications after a series of strokes and heart attacks during the past year.
Mr. Bullard came to San Jose State as the assistant track and field coach in 1968 and was named the head coach in 1970 following the retirement of coaching legend Bud Winter. Mr. Bullard served the University as head coach through the 1984 outdoor season when he moved to the University of Southern California (USC) as the men's track and field head coach.
During Mr. Bullard's San José State tenure, San Jose State was well known in track and field circles as the home of "Speed City." The Spartans won the 1969 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship in Knoxville, Tenn., while he was an assistant and seven Pacific Coast Athletic Association (PCAA) team championships during his head coach reign. Six other times, San Jose State finished in the top-20 in the team standings at the NCAA Championships during his head-coaching reign.
"I was a junior at San Jose State College when Coach Bullard arrived. I came to SJS after competing for the Santa Clara Youth Village," said Dr. Kirk Clayton, one of the world-class sprinters of the Speed City era.
"To me, Coach Bullard was not only my coach, but he was my friend. I was an American from the South coming to California from New Orleans, Louisiana. I had no family in California and the holidays were lonely times for me. if, I did not return to New Orleans, I always had a standing open invitation to visit the Bullard's and I did. I met his family and they respected me as part of the family.
"There were times in San Jose, to say 'someone white' was called friend was unacceptable; but Coach Bullard crossed the 'skin color' lines, to be a great assistant with head coach Bud Winter, then head coach , mentor and friend to all San Jose State College track team members."
Ron Livers, three times in the triple jump; Dedy Cooper in the high hurdles; javelin thrower Curt Ransford; and pole vaulter Felix Bohni, once in indoor and once in outdoor competition won a NCAA individual championship under Bullard's leadership. San Jose State athletes won 85 individual and nine relay events at PCAA Championship meets. Mr. Bullard was named the conference's Coach of the Year in 1980 and 1982.
Former world record holders John Powell in the discus and pole vaulter Dan Ripley and Olympians John Carlos, Ronnie Ray Smith, Lee Evans and Chris Papanicolaou also were among the elite world-class athletes he coached at San José State.
"Ernie was one of the finest coaches in the history of San Jose State. He followed the legendary Bud Winter, and carried on a solid track program that was of the best in the country. He was one of the reasons that I decided to leave a fine San Jose City College program and become his assistant in charge of the sprinters and hurdlers," said Bobby Poynter, a world-caliber sprinter for San Jose State in the mid-1950's.
"He coached four NCAA individual champions, two world record holders and a host of other San Jose State all-time great athletes. His San Jose State teams still hold track records to this day. He does not get enough credit for being one of the best and will sorely be missed."
"Ernie was a great competitor and a good friend. He had an infectious personality. He was an outstanding representative of our profession," said Ron Allice, one of Mr. Bullard's assistant coaches at USC.
The Safford, Ariz., native graduated from USC in 1959 majoring in education and from Arizona State in 1961 with a master's degree in physical education. A pole vaulter, he finished fourth at the 1958 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
Mr. Bullard embarked on a high school coaching career in 1960. He accepted his first head coaching position with Orange Coast College in 1963 and later had a similar role at Mesa Community College before coming to San Jose State.
Mr. Bullard is survived by his son, Denton, and daughter, Kari, and several grandchildren.
A celebration of Mr. Bullard's life and a reception are set for Saturday, September 13, in the Town & Gown Center on the University of Southern California campus beginning at noon.