California Institute of Technology

Musselman donned a plethora of caps during his long and illustrious career at the Institute, leading five decades of Caltech student-athletes and playing a critical role in the athletic department's growth before his retirement in 1966.  

The Illinois native and World War I Army Sergeant came to Caltech in 1921 as a physical education instructor, coach and part-time YMCA secretary before relinquishing his YMCA duties in 1923 to become Manager of Athletics on top of his other roles. In 1935, he became Assistant Director of Physical Education while continuing to serve as coach and Manager of Athletics. He kept up his coaching and managerial duties after becoming Director of Physical Education in 1942, handling all three roles until 1947 when he became Director of Athletics and Physical Education, overseeing the entire department. Musselman served in this role until 1964 before spending his final two years on campus as an advisor to the department. 

Despite a dearth of student-athletes and a glaring lack of on-campus athletic facilities – with no gymnasium, pool, fields, tennis courts or student center – the determined leader built up the program both prior to and after the finished construction of those facilities in the mid-1950s. As "Caltech News" wrote, Musselman "never stopped working to make the plans for modern athletic facilities at Caltech become a reality." 

Among many highlights under his tutelage include back-to-back SCIAC championships in football (1931, 1932) three conference titles in May 1945 (baseball, track & field, swimming) an undefeated and un-scored-on football season (1944) and a 63-60 double-overtime win over Long Beach State College in the first-ever intercollegiate basketball game played on campus, held in the new Scott Brown Gymnasium. 

The legendary leader collected over 220 wins in his 26 years as varsity baseball coach, and many more as assistant and freshman coaches for football and men's basketball.

Musselman received the Honorary Member Award from the Caltech Alumni Association in 1965; he passed away in 1971. As Caltech News wrote, "probably no man enjoyed his work at Caltech more than Hal."