Kersee Inducted into USTFCCA Coaches Hall of Fame
August 02, 2017 | Track & Field
Former UCLA Women's Track & Field Coach Bob Kersee will be inducted into the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCA) Coaches Hall of Fame.
The Pac-12 Women's Track & Field Coach of the Century, Kersee was a member of the UCLA Women's Track & Field staff for 32 years, beginning his career at UCLA as an assistant coach from 1980-83 before becoming head coach from 1985-93. He spent 19 years (1994-2013) with the Bruin program as a volunteer coach. As head coach, he led UCLA to five Pac-10 titles and eight NCAA Top 7 finishes, including three runner-up finishes. Prior to his arrival at UCLA, Kersee coached Cal State Northridge to consecutive national championships in 1978 and 1979.
Kersee, who was named the Nike Coach of the Year in 2005 and 2015, has coached some the greatest track and field athletes of all-time, including Olympic gold medal-winning Bruins Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Florence Griffith-Joyner, Gail Devers, Dawn Harper, and Joanna Hayes. He also coached Allyson Felix to three gold medals at the 2012 Olympics and to a U.S.-record seven Olympic medals.
The 2017 USTFCCCA Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place on Dec. 13 at the USTFCCCA Convention in Phoenix, Arizona. The other members of the Class of 2017 are Amy Deem, Peter Farwell, Jack Hazen, Fred Samara and Patrick Shane.
Kersee is the fifth Bruin to be inducted into the USTFCCA Coaches Hall of Fame, joining Jeanette Bolden, Jim Bush, Ducky Drake and Bob Larsen.
Started 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 that serve as an inspiration to coaches everywhere in the sports.
