Richard Bedard Named AIC Director Of Athletics

RICHARD BEDARD NAMED AIC DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS

            SPRINGFIELD, Mass.  - Richard F. Bedard of East Longmeadow, Mass. has been named Director of Athletics at American International College, taking over for Robert E. Burke, who recently retired after 20 years in the post. Bedard, no stranger to AIC or athletics has served in several positions at the college since 1973. He is currently the executive vice president of administration and will remain in that position.  Bedard becomes just the sixth athletic director at AIC in the last 59 years.

            Bedard said he is excited about returning to AIC athletics. "Bob Burke has done a great job in guiding the program for over 20 years. He has earned the respect of everyone in college athletics. But we still have great challenges ahead of us."

            "AIC has a great tradition of athletics and a history of distinguished leadership since 1970, including Milt Piepul (former AIC AD) and Bob Burke. Milt Piepul hired me and brought me to AIC as assistant baseball coach. Everything followed from that. This is part of our history of giving promising young coaches an opportunity," Bedard said.

            Bedard received his bachelor's degree from Amherst College and his M.B.A. degree from AIC.

            Bedard graduated from Springfield Technical High School in 1967, where he was an All-Western Mass. 3rd baseman under coach Howie Burns. He played varsity baseball at Amherst College for coach Bill Thurston, and later was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 18th round in June, 1971.

            After playing a year in the New York Penn League for the Niagara Falls Pirates, Bedard was named Hitchcock Fellow at Amherst College, and served there as assistant varsity basketball coach and freshman baseball coach.

            In 1973, Bedard was named assistant baseball coach at AIC. The following year he was appointed head coach. Bedard led the AIC baseball team to an ECAC Division II-III Championship in 1979.  In nine seasons as head coach, Bedard amassed 122 wins, good for second on AIC's all-time win list behind Henry Butova's 175 career victories.

            "We have a great combination of talented veteran coaches and promising young coaches," Bedard said. "I am looking forward to working with them. We want to develop some of the lower profile sports - field hockey, lacrosse (men and women), wrestling, tennis, golf - and start some new ones like track. There are great opportunities for prospective students in all of our sports, but especially in these."

            Bedard has served as a member of the Executive Committee for the New England
Intercollegiate Baseball Association, a game chairman for the New England College All-Star Game, and a member of the selection committee for the NCAA Division II New England Regional Baseball Tournament. He is currently a member of the Association of Professional Ball Players of America.

            Bedard lives in East Longmeadow with his wife Patty and their three children.