Ron Bargatze – Meritorious Service
Men’s Basketball Coach (1978–79)
Trevecca Nazarene University formally introduced six new members into its Athletic Hall of Fame on Monday, April 25, 2016, during an intimate dinner and induction ceremony held at 6:30 p.m. in the President’s Dining Room of the Jernigan Student Center on the Nashville campus.
Following the dinner, introductions, and acceptance speeches, the six inductees and their guests were honored during the opening of the TROJY Awards at 8 p.m. in the Boone Convocation Center.
The Hall of Famers were also introduced later in the evening during the inaugural TROJY Awards.
The six were the first to walk the Purple Carpet, receiving honorary seating for the ceremony.
The event was free and open to the public, welcoming Trevecca fans, alumni, Hall of Famers, and students.
One of the six inductees was Ron Bargatze, honored in the category of Coach / Meritorious Service for his coaching leadership and lasting impact on Trevecca athletics.
Bargatze served as head coach of the Trevecca Nazarene College Trojan men’s basketball program during the 1978–79 season, arriving in Nashville from Vanderbilt University, where he was an assistant coach in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and widely regarded as the top recruiter on the Commodores’ staff. His transition to Trevecca marked the arrival of a coach with high-level Division I experience and a vision that immediately elevated the program.
During his lone season at Trevecca, Bargatze brought a new brand and identity to Trojan Athletics, emphasizing marketing, promotions, and program visibility—elements that were uncommon at the time. He introduced Neihi Purple uniforms, which became a defining trademark of that era and helped ignite school pride among players and fans alike.
His impact was immediate and historic. Bargatze’s first win at Trevecca was the program’s first-ever victory over legendary coach Don Meyer and David Lipscomb College. His second win came on a neutral court against a seventh-ranked Cumberland College (Ky.) team, signaling that the Trojans were rapidly becoming competitive on a broader stage. He also guided Trevecca to its first win over Belmont, his alma mater.
After inheriting a program that had finished 4–28 the previous season, Bargatze engineered one of the most dramatic turnarounds in school history. The 1978–79 Trojans posted a 14–18 overall record, finished fourth in the conference, and recorded a 7–7 conference mark—the most league wins the program had ever achieved at that time. Trevecca had gone 1–13 in conference play the year before and had totaled just four conference wins across the previous five seasons combined.
The foundation laid by Bargatze extended far beyond his single season on the sidelines. With the players he coached in 1978–79 and those he recruited and signed for the following year, Trevecca launched a nine-season winning streak beginning with the 1979–80 campaign, one of the most successful stretches in program history.
Several of Coach Bargatze’s players and recruits went on to leave an indelible mark on Trevecca basketball. Melvin Taylor (2,079 points), Calvin Holmes (1,289), Greg Pemberton (1,284), Fred Harris (1,154), and Roosevelt Burrell (1,484) all played for or were recruited by Bargatze, each surpassing the 1,000-point career milestone. Taylor became the first 2,000-point scorer in Trevecca history, a testament to the talent evaluation and program-building approach introduced during Bargatze’s tenure.
The 1978–79 team captain and starting post player was Gary Van Atta, who later returned to Trevecca and served as the women’s basketball head coach for 11 years, further extending the legacy of that pivotal season.
Following his time at Trevecca, Bargatze left Nashville to accept the head coaching position at Austin Peay, leading the Governors men’s basketball program and continuing a distinguished coaching career at the Division I level.
Reflecting on his induction into the Trevecca Nazarene University Athletic Hall of Fame, Coach Bargatze offered the following statement:
“I was physically at Trevecca for only a short time, but emotionally, I have never left. I treasure the lifetime of memories and relationships that are indelibly in my soul since I left 37 years ago.
In my entire athletic life, leaving Trevecca is the one mulligan I wish I had. I love the school, the culture, and the Nazarene Faith.
Two of my former players, Mark Elliott and Gary Van Atta, are currently prominent fixtures at Trevecca. My son-in-law, Nick Peeples, is a Nazarene senior pastor in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. A priority of mine is to check all Trevecca athletic results every day.
I genuinely love everyone who was a part of the 1978–79 Trojan basketball program—from the players, coaches, managers, and trainers, to Tommy Bryan, Billy Dent, Marilu White, Buddy Vaughan, and Super Trojan. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for providing the favorite year of my coaching life, because we were, indeed, a family.
I am so honored and thankful that you have chosen to include me in this select group, the Trevecca Nazarene University Athletic Hall of Fame.”
This statement is dedicated to the memory of Fred Harris, who played for Coach Bargatze and preceded him in induction into the Trevecca Athletic Hall of Fame.
