A native Californian, Ted Bare was a three-sport standout at Southwestern University, particularly on the football field. He lettered four years in football, three seasons in basketball, and two years in track. Lining up as both a defensive end and offensive end, bare played for the 1945 Pirate Sun Bowl Championship Team. He was named Southwestern's Most Valuable Athlete in 1945 and was named All-Texas Conference in 1946. As a Southwestern student, Bare received the Floyd Betts Athletic Award in 1945 and was elected "S" Association Vice President in 1945-1946, Senior Class President in 1946-1947, and Grand Proctor for Kappa Sigma Fraternity. After completing his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1947, Bare coached Pirate ends on Sport Collins' staff in 1949, served as Head Basketball Coach in 1949-1950, and Assistant Head Football Coach for the legendary Coach Randolph "Med" Medley in 1950.