The Valpo Athletics family is saddened by the loss of Bob Metcalf ’50, who was inducted into the Valpo Athletics Hall of Fame in 2001 after his career as a men’s basketball standout from 1946-1950.

Metcalf (April 30, 1926 – April 16, 2020) passed away last week at the age of 93. He was the program’s career scoring leader at the time of his graduation.

The 1944 Merrillville High School graduate, who arrived at Valpo after two years of service in the U.S. Navy, went on to coach at three different Illinois high schools from 1950-1980. During his three-decade prep coaching career, Metcalf totaled 426 wins and 31 championships. In 1980, he began spending time in China, Mongolia, Indonesia and Sudan training basketball coaches and players.

Metcalf was the Executive Director of the Illinois Coaches Association from 1974-1982. He was the President of the National High School Athletic Coaches Association in 1978. After teaching and coaching at Waterman and Glenbard West, he continued his prep basketball coaching career at University High School in Bloomington, Ill., where he was also the athletic director and golf coach.

During his playing days at Valpo, Metcalf was an All-American in 1949 and 1950.