The WSU boxing program, started by coach Issac “Ike” Deeter in 1932, ended after the 1959-1960 school year. The NCAA closed all college programs in 1961 following a death at an NCAA tournament a year earlier.  A shortage of opponents in the west coast also spelled doom for the boxing program as transportation costs continued to rise.

Deeter, a 1929 WSC alumnus, coached for 24 years, directing the Cougars to eight Pacific Coast Conference (PCC) titles, produced 53 PCC champions, and his fighters won 15 individual NCAA titles.  Deeter continued to teach physical education classes at WSU until his retirement in 1967.