Hartley Price, Gymnastics Coach • 1930-48, Soccer Coach • 1927-33

Hartley Price established himself as one of the nation’s premier gymnastics coaches by leading four NCAA team champions, one third-place finish, two national AAU titles and winning four Big Ten Championships. Price compiled an 83-21 dual record with the Illini and was 150-41 overall. A native of Brisbane, Australia, Price trekked to Springfield College in Massachusetts where he competed in gymnastics and obtained his bachelor’s degree in physical education, the first of five college degrees, including a doctorate, he would obtain during his life.  Price joined the UI physical education faculty in 1927 and installed soccer as a varsity sport at Illinois as well as the Big Ten Conference. He introduced tumbling into college cheerleading and in 1940, organized a card display section at Illini football games. Price moved to Florida State after WWII and led the Seminoles to five national titles, including NCAA titles in 1951 and 1952, and AAU titles in 1951, 1953 and 1954. He died in Tallahassee in 1977 at the age of 75, and is a member of the FSU Athletics Hall of Fame. Price served 20 years on the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Committee.