OFFICIAL USTFCCCA HALL OF FAME RELEASE
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (August 7, 2018) – Former Northern Arizona University track and field and cross country coach Ron Mann has been named to the six-member U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) 2018 Hall of Fame induction class it was announced on Tuesday.
Mann had a legendary career as the leader of the track & field and cross country programs at NAU. Mann directed the Lumberjack running programs for 24 years (1980-2004) and helped guide Northern Arizona to a total of 58 Big Sky Team Championships. He coached a total of 103 student-athletes who earned All-America honors and 16 that finished among the top 10 at the NCAA National Championships.
The Lumberjacks won their first conference team title in 1984 in men's cross country and didn't stop their rein at the top until they chopped down 57 more, including 13 more in men's cross country, 11 in women's cross country, 11 in men's indoor track and field, eight in women's indoor track and field, nine in men's outdoor track and field and five in women's outdoor track and field.
"The NAU track family is thrilled about the announcement of Ron Mann's induction to the USTFCCCA Hall of Fame," current NAU Director of Cross Country and Track & Field
Michael Smith said. "Ron's career and accomplishments stretch well beyond NAU; this award is a national recognition from his peers of a career that impacted many but none more than the student athletes from a little mountain campus in Flagstaff Arizona."
"I've often said that our team's current success is only possible because of those who came before us," Smith added. "I can tell you there is no one who gave more to this program than Ron Mann. He and his family committed decades to building the NAU program into what it is today."
In addition, Mann helped mentor four student athletes that went on to capture the NCAA National Championship in their event as well as five Olympians and a pair of Boston Marathon Champions (Wesley Korir, 2012 & Ibrahim Hussen, 1992).
For his efforts, Mann was recognized with an amazing total of 56 Big Sky Coach of the Year awards. He has been inducted into the NAU Athletic Hall of Fame on three occasions – as a student-athlete (1971), as a member of the coaching staff of the 1988 Lumberjack Team and as an individual (1999).
Mann served as the 2008 U.S Olympic men's middle distance coach in Beijing and was the coach of the 2005 U.S. Men's World Outdoor Championships Team that competed in Helsinki, Finland.
Mann will be joined in the 2018 USTFCCCA Hall of Fame Class by Dr. Artis Davenport (Southern University), Karen Dennis (Michigan State/UNLV/Ohio State), Damon Martin (Adams State), John McNichols (Indiana State) and Dan Pfaff (Louisiana State).
Each will be enshrined in the Coaches Hall of Fame, for not only their incredible and historic accomplishments as cross country and/or track & field coaches, but also the long-lasting impact their contributions have had and will continue to have on the sports they coached.
These six coaches will be honored at the 2018 USTFCCCA Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Tuesday, December 18, at the USTFCCCA Convention in San Antonio, Texas at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa.
Established in 1995, the USTFCCCA Coaches Hall of Fame exists to recognize coaches who have brought great distinction to themselves, to their institutions and to the sports of cross country and track & field. Each of the honorees exemplifies the qualities of dedication to the sport, leadership and passion for their profession and serves as an inspiration to coaches everywhere.
"We are proud that Ron's contributions to not just this university but this sport are celebrated and recognized with this induction," Smith said. "Our entire staff will be present to stand in ovation for his honor on December 18 in San Antonio."
