Michigan Wolverines men's track and field
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The Michigan Wolverines men's track and field team is the intercollegiate track and field program representing the University of Michigan. The school competes in the Big Ten Conference in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Michigan men's track and field athletes have won 47 NCAA individual event championships, 14 Olympic
gold medal A gold medal is a medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture. Since the eighteenth century, gold medals have bee ...
s, 57 Big Ten Conference team championships (31 outdoor, 26 indoor), and one NCAA team championship. The team has had 13 coaches in 122 years from 1901 to 2022. The team is currently coached by head coach Kevin Sullivan.


Coaches


History


Fitzpatrick era (1901–10)

Michigan's first track coach was the famous trainer
Keene Fitzpatrick Dennis Keene Fitzpatrick (December 25, 1864 – May 22, 1944) was an American track coach, athletic trainer, professor of physical training and gymnasium director for 42 years at Yale University (1890–1891, 1896–1898), the University of Mic ...
(1864–1944). Fitzpatrick was a track coach, athletic trainer, professor of physical training and gymnasium director for 42 years at Yale (1890–1891, 1896–1898), Michigan (1894–1895, 1898–1910), and Princeton (1910–1932). He was considered "one of the pioneers of intercollegiate sport." Fitzpatrick was first hired by Michigan in 1894 as the trainer for the school's football team. He continued to be the trainer of Michigan's football teams through 1910, and was credited by many with the success of
Fielding H. Yost Fielding Harris Yost (; April 30, 1871 – August 20, 1946) was an American football player, coach and college athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at: Ohio Wesleyan University, the University of Nebraska, the University ...
's "Point-a-Minute" football teams of the early 1900s. Fitzpatrick became Michigan's first track coach in 1900 and continued to serve in that role through 1910. During those years, Fitzpatrick's teams compiled a 24–2–1 record in dual meets and won Western Conference track championships in 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, and 1906. In 1907, Michigan sent its track team east to compete for their inaugural Inter-Collegiate Association of Amateur Athletics of America ("IC4A") meet, and Fitzpatrick's team came away with 29 points and a second-place finish. Fitzpatrick's athletes excelled in four Olympiads during his tenure as track coach, bringing home 7 gold medals out of 15. In 1900, funds were solicited from faculty, students, alumni and Ann Arbor businessmen to send Fitzpatrick and four Michigan track athletes to the 1900 Paris Summer Olympics. John McLean won a silver medal in the high hurdles. Michigan's champion pole-vaulter,
Charles Dvorak Charles Edward Dvorak (November 27, 1878 – December 18, 1969) was an American track and field athlete who specialized in the pole vault. He attended the University of Michigan where he competed for the Michigan Wolverines men's track and field ...
and other Americans faced a quandary: finals of some events were scheduled on Sunday, including the pole vault. Several American university teams agreed they could not violate the Sabbath. Dvorak was reportedly told that the final had been rescheduled, but Dvorak and another American left. Several special competitions were conducted later to accommodate the Americans, when Dvorak win a silver medal. One of the highlights for Michigan athletics during the Fitzpatrick years came at the
1904 Summer Olympics The 1904 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the III Olympiad and also known as St. Louis 1904) were an international multi-sport event held in St. Louis, Missouri, United States, from 29 August to 3 September 1904, as part of an extended s ...
in
St. Louis, Missouri St. Louis () is the second-largest city in Missouri, United States. It sits near the confluence of the Mississippi River, Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578, while the Greater St. Louis, ...
, which have sometimes been referred to as the "Michigan Olympics." Five University of Michigan track and field athletes won nine medals: six gold, two silver, and one bronze. The Michigan medal winners at the 1904 Olympics were: *
Archie Hahn Charles Archibald Hahn (September 14, 1880 – January 21, 1955) was an American track athlete and is widely regarded as one of the best sprinters of the early 20th century. He is the first athlete to win both the 100m and 200m race at the same ...
– gold medals in the 60 meters, 100 meters, and 200 meters; *
Ralph Rose Ralph Waldo Rose (March 17, 1885 – October 16, 1913) was an American track and field athlete. He was born in Healdsburg, California. Biography Standing 6 ft 5.5 in (197 cm) and weighing 250 pounds (115 kg), Rose was the first shot putter ...
– gold medal in the shot put, silver medal in the discus, and bronze medal in the hammer throw; *
Charles Dvorak Charles Edward Dvorak (November 27, 1878 – December 18, 1969) was an American track and field athlete who specialized in the pole vault. He attended the University of Michigan where he competed for the Michigan Wolverines men's track and field ...
– gold medal in the pole vault; *
Fred Schule Frederick William Schule (September 27, 1879 – September 14, 1962) was an American track and field athlete, American football, football player, athletic coach, teacher, bacteriologist, and engineer. He competed for the track and field teams ...
– gold medal in the 110-meter hurdles; and *
Wesley Coe Wesley William Coe Jr. (May 8, 1879 – December 24, 1926), sometimes listed as William Wesley Coe Jr., was an American track and field athlete who competed principally in the shot put and also in the hammer throw, discus throw, and tug of war. ...
– silver medal in the shot put. Archie Hahn became a major star, and Fitzpatrick was credited with developing his unusual running style. Shortly before the 1904 Olympics, a Wisconsin sports writer described the style this way:
"Hahn has a new style of running. Nobody at Michigan understands the style, except that Keene Fitzpatrick invented it, and that Hahn steps differently than ever before. Even to see Hahn's new stride is not to analyze how he manages to lift his feet so high in front. The new stride suggests that he is trying to climb a hill. The little man has toughened every muscle in his body and trained it to be a spring."
With three medals, Ralph Rose also became a star. In December 1904, the ''New York Evening Sun'' wrote that Rose was "the first perfect physique ever seen at the University of Michigan" as measured by Fitzpatrick's anthropometric charts. At 6 feet, 3 inches, 246 pounds, a 29.9-inch right thigh, and a 47.6-inch expanded chest, he was the school's first "perfect physique." At the
1906 Summer Olympics The 1906 Intercalated Games or 1906 Olympic Games was an international multi-sport event that was celebrated in Athens, Greece. They were at the time considered to be Olympic Games and were referred to as the "Second International Olympic Games i ...
in Athens, Archie Hahn successfully defended his gold medal standing in the 100-meter, adding it to his three others. And at the
1908 Summer Olympics The 1908 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the IV Olympiad and also known as London 1908) were an international multi-sport event held in London, England, United Kingdom, from 27 April to 31 October 1908. The 1908 Games were ori ...
in London, Michigan athlete Ralph Rose repeated as the gold medalist in the shot put, and
John Garrels John Carlyle Garrels (November 18, 1885 – October 21, 1956) was an American athlete who excelled in the 110 metres hurdles, discus throw, shot put, and as a fullback and end in American football. Garrels won the silver medal in t ...
won a silver medal in the 110-meter hurdles and a bronze in the shot put. Fitzpatrick also coached
Ralph Craig Ralph Cook Craig (June 21, 1889 – July 21, 1972) was an American track and field athlete. He was the winner of the sprint double at the 1912 Summer Olympics.100 metres The 100 metres, or 100-meter dash, is a sprint race in track and field competitions. The shortest common outdoor running distance, the dash is one of the most popular and prestigious events in the sport of athletics. It has been conteste ...
and
200 metres The 200 metres, or 200-meter dash, is a sprint running event. On an outdoor 400 metre racetrack, the race begins on the curve and ends on the home straight, so a combination of techniques is needed to successfully run the race. A slightl ...
at the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm. In 1932, Fitzpatrick said that Craig was the best sprinter he ever turned out, though Johnny Garrels was the best all-around athlete he ever handled. Fitzpatrick's pupils, Hahn and Craig, were the only Olympic double sprint winners prior to another Michigan athlete, Eddie Tolan, accomplishing the feat at the
1932 Summer Olympics The 1932 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the X Olympiad and also known as Los Angeles 1932) were an international multi-sport event held from July 30 to August 14, 1932 in Los Angeles, California, United States. The Games were held duri ...
.


Kraenzlein era (1911–12)

When Fitzpatrick left Michigan to become a trainer and coach at Princeton, Michigan hired Alvin Kraenzlein, one of the most accomplished athletes in the county, as his replacement. Kraenzlein won four gold medals for the United States at the
1900 Summer Olympics The 1900 Summer Olympics (french: Jeux olympiques d'été de 1900, link=no), today officially known as the Games of the II Olympiad () and also known as Paris 1900, were an international multi-sport event that took place in Paris, France, from 1 ...
in Paris, winning the gold in the 60-meter sprint, the 110-meter hurdles, the 200-meter hurdles, and the long jump. In Kraenzlein's two years as coach, the team finished third at the IC4A meet both years.


Farrell era (1913–29)

Michigan's third track coach, Stephen Farrell (1863–1933) raced with hook and ladder teams in the 1880s and became known as "the greatest professional footracer this country has ever known." He was the first American to be a two-time winner of England's Sheffield Cup and competed in races from 100 yards to one mile. Seeking new challenges, he performed with the Barnum & Bailey Circus for several years racing against a horse, and losing only a half dozen times. In September 1912, Farrell was hired as the athletic trainer at the University of Michigan and noted at the time that the Ann Arbor institution "is the only western college that is thought much of down east." He served as the school's track coach until his retirement in 1930, and he was also the trainer to
Fielding H. Yost Fielding Harris Yost (; April 30, 1871 – August 20, 1946) was an American football player, coach and college athletics administrator. He served as the head football coach at: Ohio Wesleyan University, the University of Nebraska, the University ...
's football teams from 1912 to 1919. In 1915, a series of newspaper articles touted Farrell as an innovator in track coaching, noting his innovations in the following areas: * In February 1915, ''The New York Times'' reported on Farrell's novel plan to instill "enthusiasm and vim" in his athletes by having them train to the accompaniment of music played by the Varsity band. Farrell noted that his athletes had been taking more interest in dancing competitions than athletic training. Farrell planned to have the musicians "render tunes a trifle faster than the natural stride" of Michigan's best performer in each event. "It is expected that the inspiration of the music and the natural efforts of the dancers to get in time should make the Michigan men exert themselves more willingly than they are at present doing." * In January 1915, Farrell introduced rope skipping as a training method for his long-distance runners. Farrell noted, "It is a great form of exercise to develop the body, especially making men long winded and strong in the legs. It also has a tendency in making them quick and alert on their toes." * Farrell instituted "the espionage system of discovering budding athletes" by stationing "a force of spies" in the college gymnasium watching for men of sufficient prowess to compete on the track team. The "new detective method of locating possible athletes" was begun after a freshman student was seen completing a high jump of six feet — six inches higher than any member of the track team. When Michigan rejoined the Big Ten Conference in 1918, Farrell's Michigan track teams promptly won the indoor and outdoor track championships in both 1918 and 1919. Between 1918 and 1930, Farrell's teams won ten Big Ten Conference championships. His teams had a 50–16–1 record in dual meets, and his athletes won 76 Big Ten individual event titles and 11 NCAA individual event titles. Michigan also won its only NCAA team track championship in 1923 under Farrell. During the Farrell era, Michigan's star athletes included: * Carl Johnson — the first athlete to win four events at a Big Ten Conference meet; silver medalist in the long jump at the
1920 Summer Olympics The 1920 Summer Olympics (french: Jeux olympiques d'été de 1920; nl, Olympische Zomerspelen van 1920; german: Olympische Sommerspiele 1920), officially known as the Games of the VII Olympiad (french: Jeux de la VIIe olympiade; nl, Spelen van ...
held in
Antwerp, Belgium Antwerp (; nl, Antwerpen ; french: Anvers ; es, Amberes) is the largest city in Belgium by area at and the capital of Antwerp Province in the Flemish Region. With a population of 520,504,
. *
DeHart Hubbard William DeHart Hubbard (November 25, 1903 – June 23, 1976) was a track and field athlete who was the first African American to win an Olympic gold medal in an individual event: the running long jump at the 1924 Paris Summer games. He s ...
— the first African American to win an Olympic gold medal in an individual event (the long jump at the
1924 Summer Olympics The 1924 Summer Olympics (french: Jeux olympiques d'été de 1924), officially the Games of the VIII Olympiad (french: Jeux de la VIIIe olympiade) and also known as Paris 1924, were an international multi-sport event held in Paris, France. The op ...
in Paris); Hubbard also set world records in the long jump () and the
100-yard dash 1 (one, unit, unity) is a number representing a single or the only entity. 1 is also a numerical digit and represents a single unit of counting or measurement. For example, a line segment of ''unit length'' is a line segment of length 1 ...
(9.6 seconds); and * Eddie Tolan, gold medalist in the 100 and 200-meter races at the
1932 Summer Olympics The 1932 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the X Olympiad and also known as Los Angeles 1932) were an international multi-sport event held from July 30 to August 14, 1932 in Los Angeles, California, United States. The Games were held duri ...
. *
Phil Northrup Philip M. Northrup (c. 1904c. 1963) was an American track and field athlete. He won the NCAA javelin championship in 1925 and 1926 and tied for the NCAA championship in the pole vault in 1925. Biography Northrup grew up in Detroit, Michigan wh ...
– a three-time NCAA champion and four-time All-American, in the javelin throw and pole vault, (1925–27). Northrup was inducted to the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007. Walter Eckersall later wrote that, beyond coaching stars, Farrell was "a stickler for balance and depended more upon the ability of athletes to win third, fourth and fifth places than those who were picked to win." He won many meets by focusing on team power and placing athletes where they could score points. When Farrell announced his retirement, the noted sports columnist Grantland Rice paid tribute to Farrell's talent in training sprinters.
"As long as Farrell is active he will continue to turn out championship sprinters. The 'Steve start' is about the fastest thing uncovered. Michigan sprinters are in the lead at ten yards. They're out in front here, even when they're occasionally whipped. There is no finer influence on college athletes in America than that which Steve exerts at Michigan ..."


Hoyt era (1930–39)

Michigan's fourth track coach was
Charles B. Hoyt Charles B. Hoyt (October 9, 1893 – 1978) was an American track athlete and coach. Champion sprinter A native of Greenfield, Iowa, Hoyt won three straight 100 and 220 yard dashes in the Iowa state meet from 1911–1913 and won seven career go ...
, a native of Iowa won intercollegiate championships in both the 100-yard and 220-yard runs before turning to coaching. Hoyt was hired by the University of Michigan in 1923 as the assistant to Stephen Farrell and trainer of the football team. In 1930, he took over the head coaching post when Farrell retired. In Hoyt's ten years as Michigan's head coach, Michigan track teams won 14 of a possible 20 Big Ten Conference indoor and outdoor titles, including six straight indoor championships from 1934 to 1939. With Hoyt as head coach, Michigan was 40-6-0 in dual meets. His Michigan athletes also won five individual NCAA championships and 63 individual Big Ten championships (27 indoor and 33 outdoor). The athletes Hoyt coached at Michigan include: *
Sam Stoller Sam Stoller (August 8, 1915 – May 29, 1985) was an American athlete who specialized in sprinting and long jumping. He tied the world record in the 60-yard dash in 1936. Stoller is best known for his exclusion from the American 4 × 10 ...
– one of two Jews on the American track team at the 1936 Berlin Olympics; a controversy was sparked when he was pulled from the 4 x 100 meter relay event. * William Watson – won 12 individual Big Ten Conference championships, including three consecutive championships (1937–1939) in the long jump, discus and shot put; first African-American to win the AAU decathlon championship in 1940 * Elmer Gedeon – tied a world record in the high hurdles in 1938; shot down and killed while piloting a B-26 bomber on a mission over France in April 1944. *
Willis Ward Willis Franklin Ward (December 28, 1912 – December 30, 1983) was a track and field athlete and American football player who was inducted into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor in 1981. Ward was the Michigan High School Athlete o ...
– collegiate champion in the high jump, long jump, 100-yard dash, and 400-yard dash; finished second in voting for AP Big Ten Athlete of the Year in 1933; second African-American to letter in football at Michigan. *
Bob Osgood Robert D. Osgood (April 21, 1915 – July 24, 1990) was an American track and field athlete who set a world record in the 120-yard high hurdles in May 1937 with a time of 14 seconds flat. He also won the Big Ten Conference championship in the ...
– set a world record in the 120-yard high hurdles in May 1937; won Big Ten Conference championship in the event in both 1936 and 1937.


Doherty era (1940–48)

Michigan's fifth track coach, Ken Doherty (1905–1996), was an American decathlon champion before he turned to coaching. He won the American decathlon championship in 1928 and 1929 while a student at the University of Michigan; he also won the bronze medal in the event at the
1928 Summer Olympics The 1928 Summer Olympics ( nl, Olympische Zomerspelen 1928), officially known as the Games of the IX Olympiad ( nl, Spelen van de IXe Olympiade) and commonly known as Amsterdam 1928, was an international multi-sport event that was celebrated from ...
in Amsterdam. Doherty, described as "a lean, quiet Scot," was hired as an assistant track coach at Michigan in 1930, by the University of Michigan as its assistant track coach serving under the Wolverines' new head coach,
Charles B. Hoyt Charles B. Hoyt (October 9, 1893 – 1978) was an American track athlete and coach. Champion sprinter A native of Greenfield, Iowa, Hoyt won three straight 100 and 220 yard dashes in the Iowa state meet from 1911–1913 and won seven career go ...
. He remained Hoyt's assistant for nine years and took over as Michigan's head track coach in 1939 when Hoyt accepted a job at Yale. Doherty served nine years as Michigan's head coach, leading Michigan to seven Big Ten Conference championships (four indoor and three outdoor). In his nine years as head coach at Michigan, he coached some of the schools all-time great athletes, including the following: * William Watson – won 12 individual Big Ten Conference championships, including three consecutive championships (1937–1939) in the long jump, discus and shot put; first African-American to win the AAU decathlon championship in 1940 *
Robert H. Hume Robert Humiston Hume (September 18, 1922 – February 28, 1999) was the 1944 NCAA champion in the outdoor mile run. He was inducted into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor in 1990. He and his twin brother, H. Ross Hume, became ...
and
H. Ross Hume Henry Ross Hume (September 18, 1922 – January 4, 2001) was an American three-time NCAA champion distance runner who was inducted into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor in 1990. He and his twin brother, Robert H. Hume, became fam ...
– the "dead heat twins" who were champions in the mile and regularly finished their races holding hands in dead heat victories. *
Bob Ufer Robert Pormann Ufer ( '; April 1, 1920 – October 26, 1981) was an American track and field athlete and radio broadcaster. As an athlete, he set the world indoor record of 48.1 seconds in the indoor 440-yard (quarter-mile) run and was selec ...
– set the world indoor record in the
440 yards 44 may refer to: * 44 (number) * one of the years 44 BC, AD 44, 1944, 2044 Military *44M Tas, a Hungarian medium/heavy tank design of World War II *44M Tas Rohamlöveg, a Hungarian tank destroyer design of World War II, derived from the 44M Tas ta ...
and later the radio voice of Michigan football * Don CanhamAll-America who won the 1940 NCAA title in the
high jump The high jump is a track and field event in which competitors must jump unaided over a horizontal bar placed at measured heights without dislodging it. In its modern, most-practiced format, a bar is placed between two standards with a crash mat f ...
and was both the indoor and outdoor Big Ten Conference champion in both 1940 and 1941; succeeded Doherty as Michigan's track coach and became a school legend as its athletic director from 1968 to 1988 *
Charlie Fonville Charles Edward Fonville (April 27, 1927 – July 13, 1994) was an American track and field athlete who set a world record in the shot put. In 1945, he had been named the Michigan High School Track & Field Athlete of the Year. He won the Nati ...
– NCAA shot put champion in 1947 and 1948; set world record in 1948


Canham era (1950–68)

Don Canham took over as Michigan's track and field coach in 1950. He remained the head coach from 1950 to 1968. Canham was a Michigan graduate who won the NCAA high jump championship in 1940. During Canham's 19 years as Michigan's head coach, the track and field team compiled a record of 52–13–2 in dual meets and won seven Big Ten team championships—four indoor and three outdoor. Outstanding individual performers during the Canham era include the following: *
Charlie Fonville Charles Edward Fonville (April 27, 1927 – July 13, 1994) was an American track and field athlete who set a world record in the shot put. In 1945, he had been named the Michigan High School Track & Field Athlete of the Year. He won the Nati ...
– won three Big Ten championships in the shot put and set a new world record in the event * Don McEwen – won six Big Ten individual titles and two NCAA individual titles in the two-mile race *
Roland Nilsson Nils Lennart Roland Nilsson (born 27 November 1963) is a Swedish professional football manager and former player. He was most recently the head coach of Allsvenskan club IFK Göteborg. As a player, Nilsson played 116 games for Sweden, making ...
– won six Big Ten championships in the shot put and finished 5th in the event at the
1952 Summer Olympics The 1952 Summer Olympics ( fi, Kesäolympialaiset 1952; sv, Olympiska sommarspelen 1952), officially known as the Games of the XV Olympiad ( fi, XV olympiadin kisat; sv, Den XV olympiadens spel) and commonly known as Helsinki 1952 ( sv, Helsin ...
* Milt Mead – won the 1953 NCAA championship in the high jump *Dave Owen – won nine individual Big Ten titles and one NCAA individual title in the shot put *
Eeles Landström Eeles Enok Landström (3 January 1932 – 29 June 2022) was a Finnish pole vaulter, a member of the Finnish parliament, and a business executive. He won two European titles, in 1954 and 1958, and competed at the 1956 and 1960 Olympics, winning ...
– won two Big Ten championships in the pole vault and a bronze medal at the
1960 Summer Olympics The 1960 Summer Olympics ( it, Giochi Olimpici estivi del 1960), officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad ( it, Giochi della XVII Olimpiade) and commonly known as Rome 1960 ( it, Roma 1960), were an international multi-sport event held ...
* Tom Robinson – represented the Bahamas as a sprinter in four Summer Olympics from 1956 to 1968; gold medalist in the 100-meter race at the 1962 Central American and Caribbean Games * Ergas Lep – won nine Big Ten individual championships in middle-distance events; competed for Canada on the 1960 and 1964 Olympic teams * Kent Bernard – won five individual Big Ten titles in sprint events and competed in the
1964 Summer Olympics The , officially the and commonly known as Tokyo 1964 ( ja, 東京1964), were an international multi-sport event held from 10 to 24 October 1964 in Tokyo, Japan. Tokyo had been awarded the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this ho ...
*
Ron Kutschinski Ronald Craig Kutschinski (born August 28, 1947, in Grand Rapids, Michigan) is an American middle-distance runner who competed in the 1968 Summer Olympics The 1968 Summer Olympics ( es, Juegos Olímpicos de Verano de 1968), officially known as ...
– Big Ten champion and All-American distance runner who competed for the United States in the
1968 Summer Olympics The 1968 Summer Olympics ( es, Juegos Olímpicos de Verano de 1968), officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad ( es, Juegos de la XIX Olimpiada) and commonly known as Mexico 1968 ( es, México 1968), were an international multi-sport eve ...


Martin era (1969–71)

Dave Martin was Michigan's head coach from 1969 to 1971. Martin began with the Michigan track team as an All-American runner and Big Ten steeplechase champion. After graduating from Michigan in 1961, he became an assistant coach under Don Canham. Martin took over as head coach in 1969, and coached six All-Americans in his three years with Michigan. Martin's 1969 team finished 11th in the NCAA indoor championships.


Farmer era (1972–74)

Dixon Farmer was Michigan's head coach from 1972 to 1974. Farmer was an NCAA champion in the 440-yard hurdles before becoming a coach. In three years at Michigan, he coached six All-Americans including Jamaican hurdler Godfrey Murray and Kim Rowe. Farmer's 1973 team finished eighth at the NCAA Indoor Championships.


Harvey era (1975–99)

Jack Harvey served as head coach of the Michigan track team for 25 years from 1975 to 1999—longer than any other head coach in the history of the program. Harvey was a University of Michigan track team member in the 1960s, an All-American and Big Ten shot put champion. He served as an assistant coach at the school before taking over as head coach in 1975. Harvey coached 93 All-Americans and six Olympians in his 25 years as head coach. His track teams placed in the top ten at the NCAA championships on five occasions and won 10 Big Ten championships—four indoor and six outdoor. Outstanding individual performers during the Harvey era include the following: *
Greg Meyer Greg Meyer (born September 18, 1955) is an American long-distance runner. Meyer's winning time for the 1983 Boston Marathon race was 2:09.00. He was the last American to win the Boston Marathon until 2014, and the last person born in America to w ...
– was a Big Ten champion distance runner and an All-American in the steeplechase while competing for Michigan from 1974 to 1977; won the
Boston Marathon The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon race hosted by several cities and towns in greater Boston in eastern Massachusetts, United States. It is traditionally held on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897, the event was i ...
in 1983 *Mike Lattany – won three Big Ten individual championships in the high jump while competing for Michigan from 1979 to 1982 * Andrew Bruce – won eight Big Ten individual championships as a sprinter for Michigan from 1979 to 1982; competed in the
1980 Summer Olympics The 1980 Summer Olympics (russian: Летние Олимпийские игры 1980, Letniye Olimpiyskiye igry 1980), officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad (russian: Игры XXII Олимпиады, Igry XXII Olimpiady) and commo ...
*
Brian Diemer Brian Lee Diemer (born October 10, 1961, in Grand Rapids, Michigan) is a former American track and field athlete, who mainly competed in the 3000 metre steeplechase during his career. He was high school state champion in the mile while running a ...
– competed for Michigan in the steeplechase from 1980 to 1983; won NCAA 3000m steeplechase in 1983; and participated in three Olympiads (1984–1992), winning his inaugural Olympic bronze medal in 1984 * Thomas Wilcher – won an NCAA individual championship as a hurdler while competing for Michigan in the mid-1980s; was a three-time All-American *John Scherer – won three NCAA individual championships and four Big Ten individual championships as a distance runner for Michigan from 1986 to 1989


Warhurst era (2000–08)

Ron Warhurst was Michigan's head track coach for nine years from 2000 to 2008. Warhurst had been a member of the cross country teams at Western Michigan that won consecutive NCAA championships in 1964 and 1965. From 1968 to 1970, Warhurst served in the
U.S. Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through comb ...
and was awarded two Purple Hearts and a Navy Commendation Medal for service in Vietnam. He became the University of Michigan's cross country coach in 1974, a position he has held for more than 35 years. He served as assistant coach of the men's track and field team for 26 years. In 2000, Warhurst took over as head coach of the track team. Warhurst has coached 44 All-Americans and 12 Olympians at Michigan. His 2004 team finished fifth at the NCAA indoor championship. In 2008, Warhurst's team won the school's first Big Ten outdoor championship since 1983. Michigan won six individual Big Ten event championships in 2008, and Warhurst was named Big Ten Coach of the Year and Great Lakes Regional Coach of the Year. During the Warhurst era, Michigan's middle-distance runners excelled. In 2003, Canadian runner
Nate Brannen Nathan "Nate" Brannen (born 8 September 1982) is a Canadian retired middle-distance runner from Cambridge, Ontario, who competed at three Summer Olympics: 2008, 2012 and 2016. Brannen is a graduate of the University of Michigan. He is affiliated ...
won the NCAA indoor championship in the 800-meter run. In 2005, New Zealand middle-distance runner
Nick Willis Nicholas Ian Willis (born 25 April 1983) is a New Zealand middle distance runner and the country's only two-time Olympic medalist in the 1500 metres. He won the silver medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, and bronze at the 2016 Olympics in R ...
won the NCAA indoor championship in the mile run. A third middle-distance runner,
Andrew Ellerton Andrew is the English form of a given name common in many countries. In the 1990s, it was among the top ten most popular names given to boys in English-speaking countries. "Andrew" is frequently shortened to "Andy" or "Drew". The word is derived ...
won the NCAA outdoor championship in the 800-meter run in 2007. Michigan also dominated the distance medley event in the mid-2000s, winning the NCAA indoor championship in 2004 (with a team of DarNell Talbert, Ellerton, Willis, and Brannen) and again in 2005 (with a team of Rondell Ruff, Stan Waithe, Ellerton, and Brannen). Nicholas 'Nick' Willis is one of Ron Warhurst's biggest coaching success stories. He is a 4-time Olympiad and 2-time Olympics medallist. His inaugural Olympiad was the 2004 Athens Summer Olympic, competing for New Zealand in the 1500 meters. Three Michigan middle-distance runners all qualified for the 1500 meters race at the
2008 Summer Olympics The 2008 Summer Olympics (), officially the Games of the XXIX Olympiad () and also known as Beijing 2008 (), were an international multisport event held from 8 to 24 August 2008, in Beijing, China. A total of 10,942 athletes from 204 Na ...
in Beijing—Nick Willis for New Zealand, and Kevin Sullivan and fellow Canadian Nate Brannen for Canada. Willis won his inaugural Olympic medal (silver) at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics in the 1500 meters. He also competed in the 2012 London Summer Olympics, and again in the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 winning his second Olympic medal, Bronze in the 1500 meters. Willis also won the gold medal in the 1500 meters race at the
2006 Commonwealth Games The 2006 Commonwealth Games, officially the XVIII Commonwealth Games and commonly known as Melbourne 2006 (Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm 2006'' or ''Naarm 2006''), was an international multi-sport event for members of the Commonwealth held ...
and bronze medals in the 2010 and 2014 Commonwealth Games 1500 meters. Warhurst remained as head coach up until 2008, and in 2009 he then became an associate head coach for the track and field team under current head coach Fred LaPlante. He has coached Nick Willis since he entered the University of Michigan as a freshman collegiate runner on the MU Track and Field team in 2003, and ever since then as Willis has pursued a successful professional running career. They have one of the most successful coach/athlete partnerships in the history of Wolverine track and field to date, spanning 14 years, with Warhurst having guided Willis through 4 Olympiads and 3 Commonwealth Games culminating in a total of 5 medals in Willis's specialty the 1500M. In 2015 Ron Warhurst, Nick Willis, and former team-mate Nate Brannen were inducted into the Michigan Track and Field Hall of Fame. Michigan's sprinters and hurdlers also excelled in the late 2000s. In 2007, Jeff Porter won the NCAA indoor championship in the 60-meter hurdles. Sprinter
Adam Harris C. Adam Harris (born October 14, 1975) is a former Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 82nd District. He was elected in 2002 and served until 2018. Career After graduating from college, Harris joined the House ...
was named the 2008 Big Ten Track Athlete of the Year after winning Big Ten event championships in the 60 meters (indoors), 200 meters and 4×100 meter relay. Harris ran a personal best 20.68 seconds in the 200-meter race at the NCAA Mideast Regional and qualified to compete for
Guyana Guyana ( or ), officially the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, is a country on the northern mainland of South America. Guyana is an indigenous word which means "Land of Many Waters". The capital city is Georgetown. Guyana is bordered by the ...
in that event at the 2008 Olympics.


LaPlante era (2009–13)

Fred LaPlante took over as the head coach of Michigan's track and field team in 2009. LaPlante is a native of Toledo, Ohio and a graduate of Eastern Michigan University where he was an NCAA champion in the 1,500 meters race. He has been a track coach since the 1970s, including women's head track and field coach at San Diego State from 1979 to 1983 followed by head coach of the University of Southern California women's track and field team for several years in the 1980s. LaPlante was later head coach of the Lehigh University Mountainhawks track and cross country teams in the mid-1990s, where he succeeded nationally renowned coach John Covert. He was the assistant coach at Michigan from 1997 to 2008 and was named the 2008 NCAA Great Lakes Regional Assistant Coach of the Year in 2008. That year, the Wolverines won six Big Ten sprint titles and had All-Americans in the 60-meters (Adam Harris) and the 4×400-meter relay (Andre Barnes, Andrew Wechter, Dan Harmsen and Stann Waithe). In LaPlante's first season as head coach, sprinter Adam Harris was named the 2009 Big Ten track athlete of the year (indoor). In 2009, Harris set University of Michigan records in the 60-meter dash (6.60) and the 100-meter dash (10.09). He was also named a 2009 All-American in the 60-meter and 100-meter dashes. Harris won eight Big Ten championships at Michigan—four in 2008 and two in 2009. After graduating in 2009, Harris became a volunteer assistant coach with the Michigan track and field team. Junior hurdler Carl Buchanon, sophomore distance runner Craig Forys, and junior multi-event performer Frank Shotwell have been named co-captains of the Michigan track and field team for the 2010 season.


Clayton Era (2014–2021)

Jerry Clayton was hired from
Auburn Auburn may refer to: Places Australia * Auburn, New South Wales * City of Auburn, the local government area *Electoral district of Auburn *Auburn, Queensland, a locality in the Western Downs Region *Auburn, South Australia *Auburn, Tasmania *Aub ...
to begin what would be the 2014 season. During his first four seasons at Michigan he would just coach the men's indoor and outdoor teams in track and field. Starting with 2018 season the coaching staffs of the men's and women's teams would be combined, with Clayton and James Henry serving as coaches of both teams. Michigan's best national finish under him was in 2016, where they finished 13th in the NCAA Men's Outdoor Championships. It is only the Wolverines second top-15 finish since 1961 and first since 1997.


Sullivan Era (2022–present)

Prior to the 2022 season, it was announced that current Michigan cross country coach and assistant track coach Kevin Sullivan would be promoted to also run the track and field program.


University of Michigan Track & Field Hall of Fame

In 2006, the University of Michigan track and field staff established the University of Michigan Track and Field Hall of Fame. Eleven individuals have been inducted into the Hall of Fame each year since 2006.


NCAA individual event champions

Michigan track and field athletes have won 47 NCAA individual event championships. (All championships are outdoor unless otherwise noted.) *
1922 Events January * January 7 – Dáil Éireann (Irish Republic), Dáil Éireann, the parliament of the Irish Republic, ratifies the Anglo-Irish Treaty by 64–57 votes. * January 10 – Arthur Griffith is elected President of Dáil Éirean ...
: Howard Hoffman – javelin *1922: John Landowski – pole vault *
1923 Events January–February * January 9 – Lithuania begins the Klaipėda Revolt to annex the Klaipėda Region (Memel Territory). * January 11 – Despite strong British protests, troops from France and Belgium occupy the Ruhr area, t ...
: James Brooker – pole vault *1923:
DeHart Hubbard William DeHart Hubbard (November 25, 1903 – June 23, 1976) was a track and field athlete who was the first African American to win an Olympic gold medal in an individual event: the running long jump at the 1924 Paris Summer games. He s ...
– long jump *
1925 Events January * January 1 ** The Syrian Federation is officially dissolved, the State of Aleppo and the State of Damascus having been replaced by the State of Syria. * January 3 – Benito Mussolini makes a pivotal speech in the Italia ...
: Philip Northrup – javelin *1925: Philip Northrup – pole vault *1925: DeHart Hubbard – long jump *1925: DeHart Hubbard – 100 m Dash *1926:
Harry Hawkins Henry Hawkins (July 11, 1905 – August 10, 1977) was an American athlete and engineer. He was a lineman for the University of Michigan football team from 1923-1925 where he was selected as a first-team All-American in 1925. Fielding H. Yost ca ...
– hammer throw *1926: Phillip Northrup – javelin *1928:
Wilford Ketz Wilford H. Ketz (May 4, 1906 – February 26, 1991) was an American track and field athlete and athletic administrator. As a member of the Michigan Wolverines men's track and field team, he was a two-time All-American and won the 1928 NCAA Champio ...
– hammer throw *1930: Holly Campbell – hammer throw *1931: Eddie Tolan – 200-meter dash *1933: Roderick Cox – hammer throw *1936:
Bob Osgood Robert D. Osgood (April 21, 1915 – July 24, 1990) was an American track and field athlete who set a world record in the 120-yard high hurdles in May 1937 with a time of 14 seconds flat. He also won the Big Ten Conference championship in the ...
– 400-meter intermediate hurdles *1937:
Sam Stoller Sam Stoller (August 8, 1915 – May 29, 1985) was an American athlete who specialized in sprinting and long jumping. He tied the world record in the 60-yard dash in 1936. Stoller is best known for his exclusion from the American 4 × 10 ...
– 100-meter dash *1940: Don Canham – high jump *1944:
H. Ross Hume Henry Ross Hume (September 18, 1922 – January 4, 2001) was an American three-time NCAA champion distance runner who was inducted into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor in 1990. He and his twin brother, Robert H. Hume, became fam ...
– 1500-meter run *1944:
Robert H. Hume Robert Humiston Hume (September 18, 1922 – February 28, 1999) was the 1944 NCAA champion in the outdoor mile run. He was inducted into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor in 1990. He and his twin brother, H. Ross Hume, became ...
– 1500-meter run *1945: H. Ross Hume – 1500-meter run *1947:
Charlie Fonville Charles Edward Fonville (April 27, 1927 – July 13, 1994) was an American track and field athlete who set a world record in the shot put. In 1945, he had been named the Michigan High School Track & Field Athlete of the Year. He won the Nati ...
– shot put *
1948 Events January * January 1 ** The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) is inaugurated. ** The Constitution of New Jersey (later subject to amendment) goes into effect. ** The railways of Britain are nationalized, to form British ...
: Charlie Fonville – shot put *1950: Don McEwen – two-mile run *1951: Don McEwen – two-mile run *1953: Milt Mead – high jump *1957: Dave Owen – shot put *1983:
Brian Diemer Brian Lee Diemer (born October 10, 1961, in Grand Rapids, Michigan) is a former American track and field athlete, who mainly competed in the 3000 metre steeplechase during his career. He was high school state champion in the mile while running a ...
– 3000-meter steeplechase *1986: Thomas Wilcher – 55-meter hurdles *1988: John Scherer – 10,000-meter run *1989: John Scherer – 5,000-meter run *1989: John Scherer – 10,000-meter run *1995: Kevin Sullivan – mile run (indoor) *1995: Kevin Sullivan – 1500-meter run *1995: Kevin Sullivan, Trinity Townsend, Nick Karfonta, Ian Forsyth – distance medley relay (indoor) *1996: Neil Gardner – 400-meter intermediate hurdles *1996: Neil Gardner – 55-meter hurdles (indoor) *1998: Kevin Sullivan – mile run (indoor) *2003:
Nate Brannen Nathan "Nate" Brannen (born 8 September 1982) is a Canadian retired middle-distance runner from Cambridge, Ontario, who competed at three Summer Olympics: 2008, 2012 and 2016. Brannen is a graduate of the University of Michigan. He is affiliated ...
– 800-meter run (indoor) *2004: DarNell Talbert, Andrew Ellerton, Nick Willis, Nate Brannen – Distance Medley Relay (indoor) *2005: Nick Wills – mile run (indoor) *2005: Rondell Ruff, Stan Waithe, Andrew Ellerton, Nate Brannen – Distance Medley Relay (indoor) *2007: Jeff Porter – 60-meter hurdles (indoor) *2007: Andrew Ellerton – 800-meter run *2016: Mason Ferlic – 3000-meter steeplechase *2018: Ben Flanagan – 10,000-meter run


Michigan's Olympic medalists

The following Michigan track and field athletes have won Olympic medals, including 14
gold medal A gold medal is a medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture. Since the eighteenth century, gold medals have bee ...
s.


1900 Olympics

* John McLean – silver medal, 110-meter high hurdles *John McLean – silver medal in the long jump (handicap event – not recognized as an official medal) *
Charles Dvorak Charles Edward Dvorak (November 27, 1878 – December 18, 1969) was an American track and field athlete who specialized in the pole vault. He attended the University of Michigan where he competed for the Michigan Wolverines men's track and field ...
– silver medal, pole vault (special event – not recognized as an official medal) * Howard Hayes – silver medal, 800-meter race (handicap event – not recognized as an official medal)


1904 Olympics

*
Archie Hahn Charles Archibald Hahn (September 14, 1880 – January 21, 1955) was an American track athlete and is widely regarded as one of the best sprinters of the early 20th century. He is the first athlete to win both the 100m and 200m race at the same ...
– gold medal, 60-meter race * Archie Hahn – gold medal, 100-meter race * Archie Hahn – gold medal, 200-meter race * Charles Dvorak – gold medal, pole vault *
Ralph Rose Ralph Waldo Rose (March 17, 1885 – October 16, 1913) was an American track and field athlete. He was born in Healdsburg, California. Biography Standing 6 ft 5.5 in (197 cm) and weighing 250 pounds (115 kg), Rose was the first shot putter ...
– gold medal,
shot put The shot put is a track and field event involving "putting" (throwing) a heavy spherical ball—the ''shot''—as far as possible. The shot put competition for men has been a part of the modern Olympics since their revival in 1896, and women's ...
* Ralph Rose – silver medal, discus (tied for first with 128 feet, 10-1/2 inches, lost in throw-off) * Ralph Rose – bronze medal, hammer throw *
Fred Schule Frederick William Schule (September 27, 1879 – September 14, 1962) was an American track and field athlete, American football, football player, athletic coach, teacher, bacteriologist, and engineer. He competed for the track and field teams ...
– gold medal, 110-meter high hurdles *
Wesley Coe Wesley William Coe Jr. (May 8, 1879 – December 24, 1926), sometimes listed as William Wesley Coe Jr., was an American track and field athlete who competed principally in the shot put and also in the hammer throw, discus throw, and tug of war. ...
– silver medal, shot put


1906 Olympics

* Archie Hahn, gold medal, 100-meter race


1908 Olympics

* Ralph Rose – gold medal,
shot put The shot put is a track and field event involving "putting" (throwing) a heavy spherical ball—the ''shot''—as far as possible. The shot put competition for men has been a part of the modern Olympics since their revival in 1896, and women's ...
*
John Garrels John Carlyle Garrels (November 18, 1885 – October 21, 1956) was an American athlete who excelled in the 110 metres hurdles, discus throw, shot put, and as a fullback and end in American football. Garrels won the silver medal in t ...
– silver medal, 110-meter high hurdles * John Garrells – bronze medal, shot put * Gayle Dull – U.S. silver medal, 3-mile team (Dull placed 10th overall and did not contribute to U.S. team score)


1912 Olympics

*
Ralph Craig Ralph Cook Craig (June 21, 1889 – July 21, 1972) was an American track and field athlete. He was the winner of the sprint double at the 1912 Summer Olympics.100-meter race * Ralph Craig – gold medal, 200-meter race * Ralph Rose – silver medal,
shot put The shot put is a track and field event involving "putting" (throwing) a heavy spherical ball—the ''shot''—as far as possible. The shot put competition for men has been a part of the modern Olympics since their revival in 1896, and women's ...
* Ralph Rose – gold medal,
two-handed shot put Two-handed or Double-handed may refer to: * Ambidextrous * Double-handed grip in tennis * :Two-person sailboats * :Two-player card games * A melee weapon that requires two hands to wield, such as a ** Two-handed sword * Two-handed bowling * T ...


1920 Olympics

* Carl Johnson – silver medal, long jump


1924 Olympics

*
DeHart Hubbard William DeHart Hubbard (November 25, 1903 – June 23, 1976) was a track and field athlete who was the first African American to win an Olympic gold medal in an individual event: the running long jump at the 1924 Paris Summer games. He s ...
– gold medal, long jump (first African-American to win an individual gold medal in the Olympics) * James Brooker – bronze medal, pole vault


1928 Olympics

* Ken Doherty – bronze medal,
decathlon The decathlon is a combined event in Athletics (sport), athletics consisting of ten track and field events. The word "decathlon" was formed, in analogy to the word "pentathlon", from Greek language, Greek δέκα (''déka'', meaning "ten") and ...


1932 Olympics

* Eddie Tolan – gold medal, 100-meter race * Eddie Tolan – gold medal, 200-meter race


1936 Olympics

*
Sam Stoller Sam Stoller (August 8, 1915 – May 29, 1985) was an American athlete who specialized in sprinting and long jumping. He tied the world record in the 60-yard dash in 1936. Stoller is best known for his exclusion from the American 4 × 10 ...
– pulled from the gold medal-winning 4x100 meter relay team; controversy ensued over allegations that Stoller, who was Jewish, was pulled to appease the Olympic hosts


1960 Summer Olympics

*
Eeles Landström Eeles Enok Landström (3 January 1932 – 29 June 2022) was a Finnish pole vaulter, a member of the Finnish parliament, and a business executive. He won two European titles, in 1954 and 1958, and competed at the 1956 and 1960 Olympics, winning ...
– bronze medal, pole vault (competing for Finland)


1964 Summer Olympics

* Kent Bernard – bronze medal,
4x400 meter relay Four-wheel drive, also called 4×4 ("four by four") or 4WD, refers to a two-axled vehicle drivetrain capable of providing torque to all of its wheels simultaneously. It may be full-time or on-demand, and is typically linked via a transfer case ...
(competing for Trinidad and Tobago)


1984 Summer Olympics

*
Brian Diemer Brian Lee Diemer (born October 10, 1961, in Grand Rapids, Michigan) is a former American track and field athlete, who mainly competed in the 3000 metre steeplechase during his career. He was high school state champion in the mile while running a ...
– bronze medal,
3000-meter steeplechase The 3000 metres steeplechase or 3000-meter steeplechase (usually abbreviated as ) is the most common distance for the steeplechase in track and field. It is an obstacle race over the distance of the 3000 metres, which derives its name from the h ...


2008 Summer Olympics

*
Nick Willis Nicholas Ian Willis (born 25 April 1983) is a New Zealand middle distance runner and the country's only two-time Olympic medalist in the 1500 metres. He won the silver medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, and bronze at the 2016 Olympics in R ...
- silver medal, 1500-meter race (competing for New Zealand)


2016 Summer Olympics

*
Nick Willis Nicholas Ian Willis (born 25 April 1983) is a New Zealand middle distance runner and the country's only two-time Olympic medalist in the 1500 metres. He won the silver medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, and bronze at the 2016 Olympics in R ...
- bronze medal, 1500-meter race (competing for New Zealand)


References


External links


University of Michigan Men's Track and Field
{{University of Michigan, athletics Men's Wolverines