John McNichols

After graduation from Indiana University in 1972, he became a nationally prominent figure in track and cross country, coaching a 34-year tenure as head coach of both men’s and women’s programs at Indiana State … coached 15 NCAA track champions, 113 All-Americans (including cross country), 186 NCAA national qualifiers (101 women, 85 men) … teams won 38 men’s and women’s Missouri Valley Conference track and cross country championships, and he was 23-time MVC Coach of the Year … coached 7-time NCAA sprint champion, Holli Hyche, who swept national indoor and outdoor titles in 1993 and 1994 … with men’s teams, had particular success with hurdlers, including 1990 NCAA outdoor champion Chris Lancaster and 2001 NCAA Indoor champion Aubrey Herring … a meet official at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, 1987 Pan-American Games at Indianapolis and 1988 U.S. Olympic Trials at Indianapolis, and head marshal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics … chaired NCAA Rules Committee 2012-16 … born in Iowa, family moved to Ellettsville for his senior year … lettered in football and cross country before going to IU, competing under coach Sam Bell in track, and being mentored in coaching by Bell before starting own career … still actively coaching at ISU when he suffered a stroke Dec. 17, 2016, and died at 66 four days later … survived by wife Linda, whom he met at Edgewood High … in Indiana Track & Cross Country Coaches and Drake Relays halls of fame.