PROFILE
Storied bowling coach, Gordon Vadakin, pictured with his final collegiate team, the 2018-2019 WSU bowling team
‘SHOCKER’ RETIREMENT Beloved WSU bowling coach, Gordon Vadakin, demanded student-athletes be better all-around people. Better bowling followed naturally. By Mark Miller
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o synonymous has he been with Wichita State University (WSU) and college bowling, it was hard to comprehend the message Gordon Vadakin posted on Facebook on May 14, 2019, soon after emailing his former student-athletes. After nearly 46 years at the school and 20 national titles, he told the world he was retiring. He had decided it was time to spend more time with his wife Cindy; his daughter, Andrea, her husband, Raja, and their two children, Ryan and Elora; and son Kenny and his new bride, Cara. “It’s been an unbelievably fun, awesome ride with our student-athletes and all of our stakeholders for nearly 46 years here at our home — Rhatigan Student Center,” he wrote. “It truly doesn’t feel that long to me, as we’ve been so passionately involved with improving our athletes, our teams, and our program – that looking at calendars didn’t seem very important. I’m excited to be with my family more than I’ve been able to be. Also, Cindy and I have plans to travel a bunch and see things (not just the inside of a bowling center). So basically, just old, retired-guy things.” Though it was inevitable, the news didn’t seem real. Vadakin is one of those ageless people, destined to coach forever. While nobody could deny that at age 66 he deserves 16
IBI
April 2020
Gordon Vadakin with wife Cindy
