Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference

Andy Gambucci was an outstanding athlete, one of the best in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference history. Following a storied career as a hockey, football and baseball student-athlete, Gambucci eventually earned his degree in 1953 after closing the book on a storied athletic career at Colorado College.
 
While he may have been known for his illustrious hockey career, one that included a stint on the 1952 U.S. Olympic team, which earned a silver medal at the Oslo Winter Olympics, he also proved to be an incredible football talent for Colorado College. Upon his graduation, Gambucci was recognized for his hockey and football talents and eventually received professional overtures in both sports. 
 
He was stellar on the gridiron, at the time beating up on Rocky Mountain Conference – now known as the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference – competition. As a senior in 1952, he broke the Colorado College single-season touchdown record, set by Pro Football Hall of Famer Dutch Clark, after scoring 16 touchdowns to finish fourth in the nation in scoring that season. Following his record-breaking football season in 1952, Gambucci was named the Rocky Mountain Conference’s Most Valuable Player and a unanimous all-conference selection. Additionally, he was also a standout center fielder for the Tigers’ baseball program in addition to his star role on the hockey team, making him a rare three-sport athlete.
 
Upon the completion of his collegiate athletic career, Gambucci was forced to grapple with the unique situation of deciding which sport to pursue at the next level. Eventually, he chose a hockey career in Italy, a decision that paid off in spades. Following his career in Italy, he returned stateside to serve as an on-ice official for the Western Collegiate Hockey Association for 22 years.
 
Since the conclusion of his playing days, Gambucci earned a myriad of awards, including being named to the Colorado Springs Hall of Fame in 2010 and the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in 2014. He is also a two-time inductee into the Colorado College Athletic Hall of Fame, once as an individual in the 1998 class and again as part of the Tigers’ 1950 national championship hockey team. He will now add another honor to that distinguished list with his induction into the RMAC Hall of Fame as part of the 2023 class.