 Known to friends and colleagues by his nickname "Barney", Coulter guided Western Carolina for a decade characterized by a renewed emphasis on excellence in teaching, strategic planning and goal-setting, service to the western North Carolina region, and outreach to the international community.During his tenure as chancellor, Western Carolina established the Faculty Center for Teaching Excellence, later renamed the Coulter Faculty Commons for Excellence in Teaching and Learning in recognition of his support of the center's efforts both as chancellor and, upon his retirement, as chancellor emeritus.He died at age 82 in 2011 after a battle with cancer.