Wednesday, October 24, 2001

Straight shootin'
Rifle coach dedicates days and nights to university
Story by Colleen Casey • Photos by Simon Lopez

Roger Ivy’s typical day starts at 6:30 a.m. But that’s about all that’s typical about his day.

Junior Amber Turvin looks on as head rifle coach Roger Ivy adjusts the sight on her rifle. Ivy is the first and only women’s rifle coach in TCU history. In addition to being a coach, Ivy works at the Physical Plant.

After about an hour-long commute, Ivy works an eight-hour work day at the Physical Plant. Immediately after the day ends for most people, Ivy heads to the TCU Rifle Range to perform his duties as head rifle coach. Ivy leaves for home after working with each shooter individually, usually reaching his house around 9 p.m.

“To see my house in the daylight, that would be something different,” Ivy said.

Ivy puts in some long hours at TCU. During the day, Ivy works at the Physical Plant, where he works on heating, ventilation and air conditioning in residence halls. At night, Ivy is the head women’s rifle coach — the first and only person in TCU history to hold the position.

Senior rifle member Jennifer Heim said while Ivy does work a lot of hours, she never hears him gripe about it.

“Roger is a really good person to talk to,” Heim said. “He’s constantly busy, but I never hear him complain.”

His wife, Eva, is often seen at rifle practice and competitions compiling statistics. His wife said she does the work mainly so she can spend time with her husband.

“I miss him, but we take advantage of every moment, even if we see each other briefly in passing,” Eva Ivy said.

Ivy accepted a position at the Physical Plant after quitting a job as a local security guard. The night shifts took away time he could spend with the rifle team and at home. Ivy had taken the position after retiring from the Army in 1994, which ended his job as a senior ROTC instructor at TCU.

“I basically work at the Physical Plant so I can coach rifle. I mind it, but I do it,” Ivy said. “I never have done this before. I’ve learned on my own everything that I didn’t know.”

Ivy also learned a lot in the military.

Ivy, 50, a graduate of Tyler High School in Tyler and Central Texas College, served in the Army for 25 years.

“I joined the Army to get away, and to make it on my own,” Ivy said.

For the next 20 years after enlisting, he only visited his much-loved home state while on leave.

Ever since he was a young child he had practiced precision shooting and had plenty of experience for meeting Army qualifications. His shooting ability not only allowed him to qualify with flying colors, but also to be chosen a member of his company’s team combat assault squad.

He was his unit’s squad leader in the 172nd Infantry Brigade Championship Combat Rifle Team in Alaska.

He was later assigned to be an Army ROTC instructor at Jackson State University, Centenary College and Henderson State University. In 1991 he became a senior ROTC instructor at TCU.

“TCU had a very strong program and I liked it because to come back to Texas was my main goal all along,” Ivy said.

The first day Ivy moved back to Texas, was a day he said he’d never forget.

Ivy, his wife Eva and his grandson, Roger Kyle, 9, who lives with them, moved into a house on part of the five acres of land he owns between Azle and Springtown.

Finally, he was stationed in the place he wanted to be the most.

The TCU women’s rifle program began in 1991. TCU needed to add another NCAA women’s team to comply with Title IX, and rifle was the addition, Ivy said. Frank Windigger, the athletic director at that time, offered Ivy the part-time head coaching spot, to correspond with his ROTC job.

With what little spare time Ivy has, he likes to show off his 18 miniature show horses in the Double I Miniature Horse Ranch he owns.

Eva Ivy prepares the horses for her husband to show. They also have four dogs, a goat and too many cats to count.

“The words free and time are completely gone from my dictionary, especially because the (rifle and miniature show horse) seasons correspond,” he said. “But it’s something I really enjoy when I do get the time.”

Colleen Casey
c.m.casey@student.tcu.edu