…an outstanding coach and administrator whose ’65, ’66 and ’67 Canadian football Axemen became Conference contenders.
William “Bill” Busching, a gentleman with a Springfield College and University of Maine background, first appeared on the Acadia scene during the fall of 1965. He had, however, been involved with the Nova Scotia athletics a decade earlier, having been a pitcher with the Kentville Wildcats of the fabled Halifax and District Baseball League, a circuit that graduated approximately thirty players to the major leagues.
In his pre-Acadia days, Bill Busching had compiled an enviable 43-13-6 coaching record in Maine and New Hampshire high school football conferences. In one two-year span his fifteen wins and a single loss achievement resulted in a couple of Maine Conference titles. At Littlefield, N.H. a 7-1 year had brought him a state championship. In a total of seven seasons, he had coached three state championship teams, four conference champions and four undefeated squads.
During his initial season at Acadia, and ably assisted by Don Wells and Jim White, he guided his football Axemen to five wins and two losses, representing a distinct improvement in the team’s overall performance. Highlighting that successful season was the Axemen’s 27-6 victory over St. Dunstan’s in the Bluenose Football Conference opener, a contest in which Jim Cairns, Jim Guimond, Bruce Galloway and Ron Harrison were among the prominent producers. Concluding the schedule with an exciting 27- 25 victory over Mt. Allison, the Axemen were again led offensively by Galloway, Cairns and Paul Hannon.
The following season as Busching and Wells were joined by former Boston University luminary, David Barnes, the Axemen were again competitive, registering 25-7, 46-20, 43-6 and 35-12 triumphs over U.N.B., Shearwater, St. Dunstan’s and Mt. Allison respectively, as Gene Mitchell, Brock Fownes, Dave Hirsch, Warren Roy, Jim Durrell, Ross Stanley, and Jules Oliver were among the many stars. .
In his final coaching stint with the Axemen, the team posted a four wins and two losses record in the Atlantic Football Conference. In the most memorable game of the season on November 11, the Axemen crushed their perennial rivals, St. Mary’s, as captain Jim Durrell completed seven of eleven passes and scored a couple of touchdowns.
During the ’67-’68 season, Mr. Bill Busching served as Acadia’s Director of Athletics. In this capacity he worked closely with President Dr. James. M. R. Beveridge as major renovations to the sports facilities were completed. On Friday, October 20 he and the Acadia Family were thrilled as the Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia, H. P. McKeen, cut the ribbon to officially open the beautiful “new” War Memorial Gymnasium.
Departing from Acadia following that academic year, he took with him very fond memories of the University. Back in his native land, he enjoyed eighteen successful years in the insurance business. More recently he has held prominent executive positions in other business ventures.
During the fall of 1991, he returned to the football scene, coaching the Dover High School team (winners of a single game the previous three seasons) to a 6-3 record and an entry to the state championship.
At this time it is an honour to welcome back for induction as a builder to Acadia’s Sports Hall of Fame, Mr. William “Bill” Busching, holder of a career coaching record in football of 139-42-8 and the gentleman who helped greatly to develop a national championship Canadian football program at Acadia University.
