Hall of Fame
Dr. Thomas Baechle, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, came to Briar Cliff in 1969 after having taught at the University of Nebraska. During his eight-year tenure at Briar Cliff, Baechle infused and nurtured excitement in a sport (powerlifting) that had been previously unknown on the Cliff. Baechle's powerlifting teams dominated AAU competition in Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, Kansas and Nebraska from 1972 to 1974, winning state titles in Iowa in each of those three years. In 1973, Briar Cliff placed sixth in the collegiate national championships held at Brigham Young University, and in 1974, the Chargers placed second to Villanova in the national championships at Long Beach State. Villanova outpointed BC by five points, but the Chargers did pocket victories over Michigan, Michigan State, Iowa and USC, among others. Various publications printed stories documenting the success story of a small college (700 students) that held its own against major colleges and universities. From 1971 to 1976, Baechle was personally undefeated at Briar Cliff, winning all-state powerlifting titles in the 165-pound division. He won the South Central USA Powerlifting Championship and set numerous records during his career.
Baechle has published three texts and more than 30 manuscripts in the area of strength training and has received numerous honors, including the Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year Award, the most prestigious honor of the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
