CONVENTION UPDATE: Dr. Ted Bulling Honored With Jimmy Carnes Distinguished Service Award

Dr. Ted Bulling is this year’s recipient of the Jimmy Carnes Distinguished Service Award.

Bulling was feted on Tuesday during General Session of the 2023 USTFCCCA Convention at the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center outside of Denver.

The Jimmy Carnes Distinguished Service Award is presented annually to an individual who has gone above and beyond in the call of duty in their service to the Association and to the sports of cross country and track & field.

Bulling, who retired in June after more than 40 illustrious years at Nebraska Wesleyan, served many roles over the years with the Association, namely USTFCCCA President from 2011 to 2013. He was the first individual from the NCAA Division III ranks to head the Association’s Board.

Additionally, Bulling played a pivotal role in the establishment of the NCAA Division III Hall of Fame Committee and has also sat on the Association’s Hall of Fame Committee, among other posts.

As a coach, Bulling wasted no time leaving an impact on NWU after wrapping up his athletic career as a record-setting discus thrower and a three-year starter for the football team. He graduated from NWU in 1980 and was named an assistant coach of track & field one year later.

Athletes and teams coached by Bulling were beyond successful. The Prairie Wolves finished in the top-10 of the NCAA Championships more than 60 times and more than 760 conference titles. His athletes captured more than 100 NCAA event titles and hauled in more than 700 All-America honors. Academics were equally as important to Bulling: NWU had 27 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship recipients between cross country and track & field.

Bulling was a five-time National Coach of the Year and 17-time Regional Coach of the Year.