MELBOURNE, Fla. – Florida Tech's legendary Athletic Director and Rowing Coach, Bill Jurgens, has been named to the 2025 Sunshine State Conference Hall of Fame class, as announced by the league office. Jurgens will be formally inducted alongside nine other honorees during the SSC Hall of Fame Brunch and Celebration on Saturday, October 4th, at Barry University in Miami Shores.

Jurgens' remarkable career at Florida Tech spanned more than four decades, where he served as Athletic Director from 1976 to 2020. Under his leadership, Panther Athletics experienced tremendous growth and national success. He was also the first rowing coach in Florida Tech history, launching the program in 1969 and laying the foundation for what would become one of the most successful collegiate rowing programs in the region.

Throughout his coaching and administrative tenure, Jurgens led the Panthers to five national championships, 35 Sunshine State Conference titles, and seven SSC individual championships. His rowing crews claimed 20 Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association (SIRA) championships, 27 Florida Intercollegiate Rowing Association (FIRA) titles, and 17 Dad Vail Regatta victories.

Jurgens' influence extended well beyond Florida Tech. He served on the U.S. Rowing Association Board of Directors (1976-87) and the U.S. Olympic Rowing Committee (1977-80), and he has been a longstanding member of the Dad Vail Rowing Association Board of Directors since 1990. A true pioneer in collegiate rowing, Jurgens was a member of the first NCAA Women's Rowing Championship Committee (1996-99) and chaired the NCAA Division II Women's Rowing Committee from 2004 to 2006.

His contributions have been recognized with numerous honors, including induction into the Florida Tech Sports Hall of Fame, Jacksonville University Athletic Hall of Fame, and the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame. He received U.S. Rowing's prestigious Jack Kelly Award in 2016 and was the recipient of the Visionary Award from the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame in 2013. In 2025, he received the Golden Eagle Award from the Central Florida Council of Scouting America.

Jurgens currently holds the title of Athletic Director Emeritus at Florida Tech.

The Sunshine State Conference Hall of Fame was established in 1991 to honor individuals who have brought distinction, honor, and excellence to the league. The 2025 class marks the 25th Hall of Fame induction, bringing the total number of inductees to 223.

Tickets are available for the SSC Hall of Fame Brunch and Celebration on October 4th in Miami Shores. Event space is limited, and you must purchase no later than Friday, September 19th. If you are interested in celebrating the SSC's 25th Hall of Fame Class, email Maryanne Simkulak, Sunshine State Conference Senior Associate Commissioner, for more information.
 
For the complete Sunshine State Conference Hall of Fame, click here