The name Edward S. Temple will always be held in high honor and regard throughout the halls of Tennessee State University. And well it should. For forty-four years, Temple served as TSU’s head women’s track coach, leading the Tigerbelle teams to an astounding thirty-four national AAU titles. Even more amazing, forty members of his famed Tigerbelle teams have represented TSU in Olympic competition, proudly winning twenty-three medals. Temple had the esteemed honor of being selected women’s track and field coach for the 1960 Olympics in Rome, Italy, and the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. It was in 1960 when Wilma Rudolph made history for the U.S.A. with victories in two sprints and as anchor of a relay team, capturing three gold medals for the Tigerbelles. Although Temple did not coach the Olympic team in 1968, six of his Tigerbelles represented the U.S.A., including the great Wyomia Tyus. As if his accomplishments as a coach were not enough, Temple was also an accomplished athlete growing up in Pennsylvania. At John Harris High School in Harrisburg, he was an all-state athlete in track, football, and basketball. No surprise that he was also inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. For Pennsylvania and Tennessee alike, Edward S. Temple is truly a state treasure.
