By Lindsey Blackwood, Staff Writer
Although golf coach Andy Rushing has held his position for seven seasons, golf is not the only sport he coached at Union or other schools. He played baseball from 1972 to 1976 at Union.
Rushing then taught and coached at South Side High School until 1984. His next move was to Lambuth University, where he coached baseball from 1984 to1988 and football 1985 to1986. In 1988, Rushing returned to Union, where he coached baseball for 17 years.
“I always wanted to coach at Union,” Rushing said. “My experience as a student-athlete here shaped my life. I told Coach (David) Blackstock at Awards Day in 1976 that I wanted to come back and coach here someday.”
After 29 years of coaching baseball, Rushing moved to coaching golf.
“The time came to do something a little less demanding than baseball,” Rushing said. “We have had a great run of winning teams. We have developed a team concept in an individual sport. That took some time and the right guys in the program … it’s probably more gratifying than the championships.”
Aside from being the Bulldogs’ head golf coach, Rushing has been married for 37 years, has three daughters and two grandsons and is active in the community.
“I work with dozens of young baseball and softball players and love seeing them get better and start to believe in themselves,” Rushing said. “I won’t ever get the baseball out of my system, so that’s how I stay connected to the game. I have a passion for teaching.”
