Dr. Ed Etzel, WVU College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences professor of sport psychology and five-time NCAA championship rifle team coach, has been selected for induction into the West Virginia Sports Hall of Fame.

The Olympic gold medalists will be honored by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association at the 64th annual Victory Awards Dinner on May 2 in Morgantown.

“What a pleasant surprise. I’m truly humbled by the honor,” remarked Etzel when informed of the selection.

He is a native of New Haven, Connecticut and earned a bachelor’s degree from Tennessee Technological University.

Etzel went on to earn both a master’s degree and doctorate from WVU, and has been employed by the university for the past 34 years, serving as Mountaineer rifle coach from 1976-1989.

As coach, he developed over 30 All-American riflemen and led his WVU teams to the first five of the school’s 14 national rifle championships.

In 1984, Etzel became the first, and only, Mountain State rifle-shooter to win an Olympic gold medal with a victory in the Men’s English Match Rifle event at the Olympics in Los Angeles.

Since retiring from coaching, Etzel has remained involved in the sport, serving as secretary and rules editor on the NCAA rifle committee. He also is listed on the U. S. Olympic Committee Sport Psychology Registry.

Etzel currently serves as the WVU athletic department psychologist.

Tickets for the Victory Awards Dinner will be available from West Virginia Sports Writers Association members beginning on March 22.

-WVU-

kc/03/16/10

CONTACT: Kimberly Cameon, College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences
304-293-0827, Kimberly.Cameon@mail.wvu.edu

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