The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Men's Athletics Director Dodds to be inducted into U.S. Track Coaches Hall of Fame
08.24.2006 | Texas Athletics
AUSTIN, Texas -- University of Texas Athletics Director DeLoss Dodds will be inducted into the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Hall of Fame on Dec. 12 in San Antonio, announced the organization. Dodds is being honored for his contributions to track and field while he was a coach at Kansas State.
Dodds, who recently earned the John L. Toner Award for demonstrating superior administrative abilities and showing outstanding dedication to college athletics and the Street & Smith's Sports Business Journal National Athletic Director of the Year Award, led the Wildcat program to six league championships as head coach in the 1960s and 70s. During his tenure from 1963-76, Kansas State won Big Eight cross country titles in 1965, '66, '71 and '75, indoor track and field crowns in 1974 and '76 and boasted two Olympians in 800-meter runner Ken Swenson and steeplechaser Conrad Nightingale.
"The important part is that I had 15 wonderful years coaching," commented Dodds. "Thinking back through that, the relationships I had with other coaches was a wonderful thing. The student-athletes I coached, I still hear from them today. We still have reunions and it was a period in my life that I really enjoyed. It's nice to be honored by your peers on something like this."
Joining Dodds in the Hall of Fame Class of 2006 are Al Carius (North Central), Bill Bergan (Iowa State), John Coughlan (Illinois State), Bob Groseclose (Northeast Louisiana), Tom Heinonen (Oregon), Don Hood Sr. (Abilene Christian), Ted McLaughlin (Southern Methodist University), Bill Moultrie (Howard), Jack Pyrah (Villanova), Deb Vercauteren (Wisconsin Oshkosh) and Gary Wieneke (Illinois).
"The neat thing (about all of this) is that there are other people that are being inducted that were friends of mine from my coaching days," continued Dodds. "Gary (Wieneke), who is also on the list, and I were good friends. I'm going to enjoy seeing all of them. That will be the fun of it. Being able to go back and talk to everyone and reminisce should be an exciting time."
Since coming to the Forty Acres in 1981, Dodds has been instrumental in the success of the athletics program. Over his 25-year tenure in Austin, Texas has won 12 national championships and 87 league crowns in nine different sports. The Longhorns have earned 18 bowl berths, 16 NCAA basketball tournament bids and won three NCAA College Baseball World Series titles. UT has also experienced conference, regional and national-level success in swimming and diving, tennis, golf and track and field.
For more information on the USTFCCCA Hall of Fame, see .