Bridgewater College

VIDEO: DANIELGEISER HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY

Dr. Daniel S. "Danny" Geiser has been chosen to theBridgewater Athletic Hall of Fame in recognition of his superbachievements as a head coach and instructor during his years ofemployment at the College from 1946-56 and 1957 to 1962.

Dr. Geiser has been previously inducted into the AthleticHall of Fame at his alma mater, Juniata College, where he competedin four sports and earned 13 letters. After obtaining hisundergraduate degree from Juniata, Geiser completed his Master'sdegree at Ohio State University and went on to serve in World WarII as a Navy pilot in a floating catapult plane. He was on boardthe USS Alabama in the European Theatre and also served in thePacific Theatre aboard the USS Iowa. For his bravery in theobservation scouting of fired-upon targets and rescue of downedpilots, Dr. Geiser was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross bythe U.S. Navy.

Dr. Geiser is best remembered at Bridgewater College forreinstituting the football program after World War II in the1949-50 season on a budget of only $500. He coached the footballsquad himself from 1949-52, while also winning a total of 115 gamesas head coach of the Eagles' basketball team from 1946-56 and'57-'62. Geiser guided the 1948-49 basketball squad to a 14-4 markand the 1959-60 team to a 17-4 season, which was one of theCollege's best records of that era. Geiser also coached baseball atBridgewater, where he guided the diamond Eagles to a record of122-106 and a share of the Virginia Little 8 championships in both1960 and '62. As a professor, Dr. Geiser initiated the Health andPhysical Education discipline as a major and headed the firstHealth and Physical Education graduating class in 1952. He laterearned his Doctorate degree from Columbia University and finishedhis career as the head of the Physical Education Department atAmerican University in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Geiser laid the groundwork for the success of many oftoday's Athletic teams, and his vision for a Health and PhysicalEducation major has placed hundreds of teachers and coaches inpublic and private schools nationwide. His dedication toBridgewater athletics and academics coupled with his genuineconcern in the development of students makes him a naturalselection to the Bridgewater College Athletic Hall ofFame.