July 6, 2016

DAVIS, Calif. - Gary Colberg, the affable University of Minnesota alumnus who served as the director of UC Davis intramurals and sports clubs for four decades, died on Monday after a long battle with leukemia. He was 74.

A former member of a Golden Gopher football program that competed in back-to-back Rose Bowls, Gary James Colberg arrived at the Aggie campus in 1966 to run the university's intramural sports programs. He shared two primary traits with one of his first UC Davis mentors, athletics director Bill Lakie: a salt-of-the-earth Midwestern demeanor, and an unquenchable thirst for serving the students in their pursuits of recreational athletics.

Laura Hall, a former Aggie basketball standout, served as Colberg's top assistant upon her return to her alma mater in 2001, then succeeded Colberg as director of recreation after his retirement in 2006. Colberg, Hall said, brought a combination of enthusiasm, a meticulous work ethic, and an imaginative mind to his role. Indeed, he often worked into the wee hours to better his programs, and could be seen checking in on late-night floor hockey or slow-pitch softball games to see the UC Davis students enjoying the competition.

"Gary worked extremely hard at serving the students of this university. It was his passion," said Hall. "I know it sounds like a cliche, but working for someone like him was a privilege."

As Colberg told UC Davis' Dateline shortly before his retirement, the "opportunity to program whatever activity I wanted" became a favorite aspect of running IM sports. As such, he literally invented the game of inner tube water polo in the late 1960s. Colberg also provided an opportunity for women to compete in flag football as early as 1967, five years before the passage of Title IX. He established the Intramural Wall of Fame, on which photos of every IM champion were immortalized for future generations to see.

"He thought in a very innovative way, and always looked for the next big thing, so he was always really receptive to super-creative thinking," said Hall. "Collegiate recreation is a very dynamic field. You have to be ahead of the students' needs to be poised to serve them."

In the late 1990s, during a boom of inline skating, Colberg oversaw a project in which the rec basketball court on La Rue Road was transformed into a full-fledged roller hockey rink, complete with a Sport Court surface and arena-quality dasher boards. Near the end of his career, perhaps buoyed by the hit comedy movie, Colberg introduced intramural team dodgeball -- using safe foam balls rather than the abrasive rubber spheres that previously had stigmatized the sport.

When it came to overseeing the dozens of sport clubs, Colberg created a model of student-led programs. Students, rather than university staff, were charged with the hiring and firing of their club's coaches. They developed their own travel schedules and managed their team's budgets. "Students are developing skills that will serve them well beyond their time here," said Hall. "That's Gary's influence. He came from a foundation of student development."

In fact, the current UC Davis students owe Colberg a debt of gratitude. According to Hall, "Gary is truly responsible for the foundation of intramual sports and sport clubs as they know it today." The eclectic mix of sports, the heavy interest in fair play at all times, and the continued desire to meet student needs and wants -- each of these all but stand as a tribute to Colberg. "Everything we do has a focus on serving the students. I think that's the biggest compliment we can pay to him. Generations upon generations of students have been positively impacted because of Gary."

Gary Colberg arrived at UC Davis in 1966 to man the intramural sports program. (Department archive)

Incredibly, Colberg's body of work in UC Davis campus recreation represents only a portion of his legacy to sport. In 1973, he became a regionally certified volleyball official. This began a long and decorated career as an official and contributor. He received his national rating in 1976, then his international credentials after that. Colberg served as an official on numerous elite international stages, including the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, two Goodwill Games, and the 1994 World University Games. He coordinated all indoor volleyball officials and game crew personnel during the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. He was the first referee during the 1984 NCAA women's title match between UCLA and Stanford.

The same pioneering spirit that served him on the UC Davis campus helped Colberg grow the sport of volleyball. He established a Junior Olympics national championship while a member of USA Volleyball's board of directors, then later founded the first-ever collegiate club championship. USAVB has bestowed four major accolades upon Colberg: the George J. Fisher Leader In Volleyball Award in 1987, the Glen G. Davis Referees Award in 1992, Dr. Harold T. Friermood "Frier" Award for his lifetime achievements in 2003, then the Wilbur H. Peck Referee Emeritus Award in 2012. More locally, the Northern California Collegiate Volleyball League -- which Colberg founded -- inaugurated a lifetime achievement award bearing his name.

Colberg was often spotted supporting the Aggie student-athletes at numerous UC Davis athletics events, with his familiar smile and quick quip at the ready for the countless friends who greeted him. Of course, on one date per year, his allegiance to the blue and gold side may have been up for grabs: Gary's wife, Debby, enjoyed an outstanding 32-year career as the head women's volleyball coach at Sacramento State, the Aggies' archrival.

Nonetheless, Colberg's dedication to all UC Davis students was and is cherished by his peers. Bob Bullis served under Colberg as an associate IM sports director before embarking on a 32-year career as a senior administrator for the Aggie athletics department. His sentiments echo that of Hall's: Colberg devoted his entire career in enhancing the university experience for all students.

"Gary's biggest asset was his passion for student involvement at UC Davis," Bullis said. "He always wanted as many students to participate as much as they possibly could, whether it was through intramural sports, sport clubs, informal recreation, or intercollegiate athletics. He loved the idea of students being involved with physical activity."

"Gary constantly made adjustments to programs, playing times, playing rules or anything he could think of to help bring more students into the areas he was involved with. He loved UC Davis and it is a better place because of his leadership and involvement over his 40-year career. The campus, those of us who knew him, and those who had the privilege of working with him are all better for it because of the enthusiasm and progressive thinking that he brought to work every day."

Memorial services will take place on Saturday, July 23 at 11 a.m. in the ARC ballroom.