Beloved Coach Bonuchi to Join MO Sports Hall of Fame

Vic Bonuchi, legendary football, wrestling, and baseball coach at Excelsior Springs High School, will be inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame on April 23, 2023.

Bonuchi came to Excelsior Springs in 1959 as an assistant football coach and physical education teacher from William Jewell College, where he was a stand-out three-sport athlete. In Excelsior Springs he quickly made a name for himself becoming the head football coach in 1961, with a record of 5-3-1. He remained in that position until 1971, compiling a record of 81-12-6. From 1963 to 1968, the Tigers went 45 games without a loss, which still ranks fourth all-time in Missouri for games played without a loss.

Coach Bonuchi, kneeling lower right with his fellow coaches at Roosevelt Field

After leaving Excelsior Springs for a brief stint to serve as the defensive coordinator at William Jewell College, Bonuchi returned to the Excelsior football sidelines as the head coach in 1989 and remained until 1996. During his second tenure, he compiled a record of 59-29, including two state championships in 1994 and 1996. His overall head coaching record is 140-41-6 for an impressive .740 winning percentage.

But football wasn’t the only sport in which Bonuchi excelled. He also started the Excelsior Springs wrestling program in 1961 and coached his teams to two state titles in 1974 and 1975. He even coached baseball during his second tenure in Excelsior Springs and took his teams to three Final Four appearances in 1995, 1996, and 1999.

the dueling pistols stayed in Excelsior Springs for many years under Coach Bonuchi’s watch. When the new Tiger Stadium was built, the field was named in Bonuchi’s honor.

Bonuchi’s dedication and leadership have made him a beloved figure in Excelsior Springs and beyond. His accomplishments have already earned him membership into the Missouri High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame, the Greater Kansas City Football Coaches Hall of Fame, the Missouri High School Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame, and the National Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame. He was also a member of the inaugural class in the Excelsior Springs High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

Coach Bonuchi with former players and coaches at the Excelsior Springs Athletic Hall of Fame induction.

Bonuchi’s induction into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame is a well-deserved recognition of his achievements and his impact on the lives of countless students and athletes.