SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Slippery Rock University and the athletic department mourn the passing of legendary former water polo coach Richard "Doc" Hunkler, who passed away April 9.
 
Hunkler, 83, was a former professor and chair of the Computer Science Department, in addition to his roles as water polo and swimming coach.  
 
Born May 9, 1935 in Houston, Texas, he was a graduate of Texas A&M University where he earned undergraduate, master's and doctoral degrees. He was also an All-American swimmer for the Aggies.
 
Hunkler spent 30 years (1968-98) at SRU, where he guided the women's water polo team to a Division I national championship and 10 top-three national finishes during an illustrious coaching career. He launched the University's water polo program in 1972 as a club sport and led it to varsity status in 1991, ultimately coaching the women's teams for 27 seasons and men's teams for 24 seasons. He also spent seven seasons as the women's swimming coach.
 
On the varsity level, Hunkler compiled a 316-82 record in 23 seasons: 162-20 in eight women's water polo seasons, 116-53 in eight men's water polo seasons and 38-19 in seven women's swimming seasons.
 
He was inducted into the U.S. Water Polo Association Hall of Fame in 2000 and was one of two men in 2002 who comprised the inaugural class of inductees into the Collegiate Water Polo Association Hall of Fame. Hunkler was also enshrined in the SRU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011.
 
USA Water Polo established the Doc Hunkler Distinguished Women's Coaching Award in 2010. The award is presented annually to the top scholastic coach in the nation. The CWPA also honored Hunkler by putting his name on its Women's Eastern Region "Coach of the Year" award.
 
Hunkler earned Collegiate Water Polo Association national "Coach of the Year" honors three consecutive seasons after leading SRU to Collegiate National Championships runner-up finishes in 1993 and 1994 and the Division I national championship in 1995.
 
The national title, which was claimed in only the fourth year of varsity competition by The Rock, is one of only two ever won by an SRU varsity sports team and the only women's water polo national title ever captured by an Eastern team.
 
He is survived by his wife, Billie; two sons, Sean (Dolores) Hunkler of St. Louis, Missouri, and Wes (Terri) Hunkler of Ellwood City; a sister, Nancy Nunnery of Houston, Texas; 10 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a son, Wynne, who died in 2015.
 
Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m., April 15, and 10-11 a.m., April 16 until the time of service at 11 a.m., at Smith Funeral Home, 421 New Castle Street, Slippery Rock.
 
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Slippery Rock Volunteer Fire Company and Rescue Team, PO Box 117, Slippery Rock, PA 16057.