By Troy A. Bruzewski
Correspondent
For University of Wisconsin-Madison senior Grant Bughman wrapping up college athletic career was an expected milestone. But after he and the Badgers completed one of the best seasons in school history for men’s track and field and cross country, they had no idea it was their coach’s final season as well.
Ed Nuttycombe – the most successful coach in Big Ten history for track and field and cross country – decided to make this 30th season, his last. Bughman said he and teammates had no idea he was retiring, until after they returned from the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Austin, Texas.
It is fitting, however, that the two exit the Badger program at the same time. Each had the best season of their career and led the Wisconsin men’s team to its best season-ending ranking in its history, from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. The Badgers finished behind Arkansas for the top spot.
Nuttycombe says the Bughman was a boost to the outdoor track and field portion of the award’s scoring.
“He had the best year of his career and was a very integral part of our outdoor team,” he said. “He did compete in other events, but with the idea of making his primary event the best it could be and his primary event is the 400 hurdles.”
Bughman qualified for the NCAA Division I Championships with a 51.90 in the 400-meter hurdles at the Wisconsin Open on May 3. He was one of 23 Badgers to qualify for the championships – held May 23-25. This after winning the Big Ten title in outdoor competition and over a year since Bughman was sidelined with a foot injury that forced him to miss a significant amount of competition.
“I ruptured a ligament during the 2011 indoor season and missed the following spring season,” he said. “And it happened at the Big Ten championships for indoor.”
After rehabbing the foot, Bughman returned to help Wisconsin reach the best-ever finish by a Big Ten team in the John McDonnell Program of the Year standings from U.S. Track & Field.
Though as Bughman said, he and the team were surprised to hear of Nuttycombe’s retirement, since so many Badger athletes are returning next season. Bughman thinks Nuttycombe could have gone out with a No. 1 finish.
“It’s surprising because of how stacked the team will be next year,” he said. “A lot of guys thought it would be next year.”
Ironically, the first season in 30 years without Nuttycombe could be the first with Bughman being associated with the Badgers’ coaching staff. He said discussions with assistant coach Mark Guthrie – the coach who recruited Bughman – have involved him assisting the team in the coming season.
“If coach Guthrie is around, I’ll be helping the team next season,” Bughman said.
Bughman had multiple wins with relay teams while at Wisconsin, along with individual wins that include the top spot in the 400-meter run at the 2012 Wisconsin NCAA Qualifier.
