Posted: December 5, 2004

Athletics: USTCA inducts 6 into Hall of Fame, names Seemes executive director

PORTLAND, Ore. - The United States Track Coaches Association on Saturday inducted six new members into its Hall of Fame: Jim Santos, Pat Henry, John Chaplin, Bob Ehrhart, Ed Jacoby and Ken Gibson. The induction ceremony was held Saturday at USTCA's Annual Convention, held in conjunction with the 2004 USA Track & Field Annual Meeting.

The USTCA also on Saturday announced Sam Seemes as its new CEO.

As head coach at Cal State Hayward, Jim Santos' women's team won the AIAW national title in 1972. He took over the men's program as well in 1973, winning the 1977 NCAA Division II title. He was 1973 AIAW Coach of the Year and 1977 NCAA Division II Coach of the Year, and was on national team staffs at the 1980 Olympic Games and 1983 Pan Am Games.

One of the most successful coaches in NCAA history, Pat Henry served the last 17 seasons as head coach at Louisiana State, directing the Tigers to 27 NCAA team championships and 16 Southeastern Conference titles. In March, 2004, Henry's Tigers became the first school in NCAA history to sweep the men's and women's team titles at the NCAA Indoor Championships. He is now director of track & field at Texas A&M.

The Men's Track & Field Chair for USA Track & Field and 2000 Olympic Team men's head coach, John Chaplin coached at Washington State University for 27 years. Among the star athletes he mentored were former world record holder Henry Rono and 2004 National Track & Field Hall of Fame inductee Gerry Lindgren.

Bob Ehrhardt coached and directed the Drake Relays for 20 years. Coaching in high school and college for a total of 41 years, his appointments included Northwestern University, where his cross country team won the 1965 Big Ten title. He has served as president of the Division I Coaches Association and as manager and coach for many U.S. national teams. He is a member of the Iowa Track Coaches Hall of Fame.

Ed Jacoby coached at Boise State for 24 years, retiring in 1997. He is the author of three books on track & field and is historian of the Nez Perce Indian Tribe. A ten-time Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year, he was national high jump development coordinator for USA Track & Field for eight years and was a member of three national team staffs, including the 1992 Olympic Team.

Ken Gibson began his career in New York as a high school teacher and track and cross country coach before coaching at Florida A&M and Grambling. In 1967, he moved to Kentucky State, where his teams won a national team championship and five individual titles. He moved to Mississippi State in 1985 and since 1991 has been an adjunct professor of physical education at Georgetown College in Kentucky.

Santos hired as CEO

The United States Track Coaches Association on Saturday announced the hiring of Sam Seemes as the new Chief Executive Officer. He assumes the position held by Jimmy Carnes since the inception of USTCA, in 1992.

Seemes comes to the USTCA from Mondo USA, where he was U.S. sales manager. He previously was women's head coach at Louisiana State University from 1976 -1988, where his team won the NCAA National Championships in 1987.

"Sam Seemes is certainly most qualified for this position," said outgoing USTCA President Terry Crawford. "He has the energy and enthusiasm to lead American track and field and cross country coaches well into the 21st century. He is as passionate as we coaches are about our sports of track and field and cross country."