University of Vermont Athletic Hall of Fame
Perry Bland 1971 - Cross Country, Skiing, Track and Field
A four-sport letterwinner and the recipient of the Semans Trophy as an undergrad, Perry Bland's career as a student-athlete and coach spanned more than three decades at UVM. Bland retired in 2003, the same year he became a member of the UVM Hall of Fame, after spending 31 years as a coach at the university, a span where he served as head coach of men's tennis, men's Nordic skiing and men's cross-country. From 2000 to 2003, he was an assistant coach for the Catamount cross country and track and field teams.
As a student-athlete at UVM, Bland excelled in Nordic skiing and cross-country running. The Nordic team captain in 1971, he was the team's MVP in 1970 and had numerous top-three finishes on the Eastern Intercollegiate Ski Association (EISA) circuit. Also a member of the USEASA Eastern Team, which included the top five collegiate skiers in the East, Bland was 17th in the Olympic Trials in 1972 and the Catamounts were fifth nationally in 1970. In cross-country, Bland was team captain in 1971 and he led the Green and Gold to a fifth-place finish at the New England Championships in 1971.
Head coach of women's cross-country for 16 years, Bland was also a long-time coach in Nordic skiing. During his tenure, the men's team won a national title in 1980 and the women's team followed that up with a national championship in 1981.
In his 13 years as men's tennis coach, Bland compiled a record of 134-126 and led the Catamounts to the America East (then named the North Atlantic Conference) Championship, the school's first, in 1992. From 1991-1994, Vermont was 48-22 (.686) in dual matches, and Bland was named Coach of the Year in the conference in 1992.
In cross-country, Bland led the team to a record of 58-25 (.699) and back-to-back New England titles in 1979 and 1980. The New England Women's Intercollegiate Cross Country and Track and Field Association named him Coach of the Year in 1988-89.
Still one of the top masters runners and skiers in New England, Bland's nomination was supported by a number of former Catamounts, including Hall of Famer Chuck Davis and Hank Pfeifle. They wrote: "We feel that UVM should honor Perry's 30-year career of dedication to the athletic improvement and personal gains of young people attending UVM as well as his own participation as a student-athlete. He continues to set a quiet but stellar example of the lifelong benefits of sport. He was there for the victories and defeats and taught kids how to grow from both. We feel athletics are a vital part of the UVM spirit and Perry Bland is the embodiment of that spirit."
