Release courtesy University of Washington media relations at www.gohuskies.com
Paul Merca > > >// For Immediate Release // >June 24, 2002 >Contact: Brian Beaky > >Orin Richburg Resigns as Husky Track Head Coach >SEATTLE- Washington head track and field coach Orin Richburg announced his >resignation Monday. Richburg will continue to work with USA Track and Field, >with whom he has held numerous coaching appointments. > >"Due to circumstances surrounding the direction the University of Washington >track and field and cross-country teams, I will be resigning as head coach >of both, effective at the end of my contract," Richburg said, "I am offering >my resignation at this time to provide ample opportunity for the University >to consider quality applicants for my position." > >Richburg, 56, directed four U.S. Olympians, three NCAA champions and 19 >Pac-10 champions during his 17-year tenure at Washington. Last year, >Richburg was elected by his peers to coach the United States at the 2001 >World Championships, the most prestigious honor for a track and field head >coach in a non-Olympic year. Richburg directed the Americans to a meet-high >19 medals, including nine golds. > >"We appreciate all that Orin has done for the track and field program over >two decades," says Washington athletic director Barbara Hedges. "He has had >a positive impact on numerous student-athletes during his tenure. On behalf >of the entire department, we want to wish him luck in his future endeavors." > >Prior to Richburg's becoming Washington's fifth women's track and field head >coach, in 1986, Washington had struggled to a 21-25 (.457) dual-meet record >in 12 seasons. In the 17 years since, Richburg guided Washington to a >79-32-1 (.710) mark, while establishing himself as the winningest coach in >Husky track and field history. As men's head coach, a title he added in >1998, Richburg compiled a 23-12 (.657) dual-meet mark. > >Richburg's finest season was 1988, when he directed Washington's women's >squad to a 10th-place finish at the NCAA Championships, the best postseason >finish in school history. > >Before arriving at Washington, Richburg spent seven seasons at Kent State, >earning Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year honors in 1980. A fine >athlete in his own right, Richburg was a two-sport star at Kent State, >earning All-America accolades as a sprinter in 1967, the same year he set a >school record with a 98-yard kickoff return for the Golden Flashes' football >team. > >The search for Richburg's successor will begin immediately. > >-UW-
