The rangy, long-limbed standout from Seattle’s Roosevelt High School came to Seattle Pacific for an education and to play basketball. He left as a world-class track and field athlete with an education that extended far beyond the classroom.
Steve Gough’s wealth of physical tools inspired Dr. Ken Foreman to point him toward track and field’s most grueling test: the decathlon. It was a good match. Gough went on to win the inaugural NCAA Division II national decathlon championship.
One of America’s premier decathletes in the early 1970s, Gough barely missed an Olympic berth in 1972, being edged by Bruce Jenner in the final event. Later, Gough set a world record in the pentathlon, and won the event at a USA-USSR dual meet in the Soviet Union.
Gough served SPU in many ways, including time as a residence hall coordinator (along with his wife, Paula). He also was an assistant coach, and the women’s basketball coach. His success in the decathlon spawned a Seattle Pacific tradition of excellence in that event. Gough’s sons -- Brian, Kyle and Chris -- continued the family’s multi-event legacy at SPU. Steve and Kyle, a three-time All-American, own the U.S. father-son decathlon record.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS (1967-70)
• NCAA Division II triple jump champion in 1968; NCAA decathlon champion in 1970.
• Six-time All-America recipient.
• Set school records for high jump, long jump, triple jump, discus and decathlon.
• SPU Athlete of the Year in 1969 and 1970.
