John McDonnell (coach)
McDonnell in 2008
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| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Conference | SEC |
| Biographical details | |
| Born |
July 2, 1938 County Mayo, Ireland |
| Playing career | |
| 1965–1969 | Southwestern Louisiana |
| Position(s) | 3,000 meter, mile |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1969–1970 | New Providence (NJ) HS |
| 1971 | Lafayette (LA) HS |
| 1972–2008 | Arkansas |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| NCAA Championships: 40 NCAA Triple Crowns: 5 SWC Championships: 38 SEC Championships: 46 |
|
| Awards | |
| 30-time national coach of the year 49-time conference coach of the year 62-time region coach of the year |
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John McDonnell (born July 2, 1938) is the retired head coach for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks track team. He began as the cross country and track head coach for the University in 1972 and became head track coach in 1978. McDonnell retired after the 2008 NCAA Outdoor Championships.
McDonnell earned his bachelor's degree from Southwestern Louisiana (now Louisiana-Lafayette) in 1969, while competing to become a six-time all-American in track and cross country at USL, become the 1966-67 AAU 3,000-meter champion, and won the mile at the 1966 British Selection Games.
He coached at New Providence (N.J.) High School (1969–70) and Lafayette (La.) High School (1971) before coming to the University of Arkansas.
McDonnell was hired as the cross country coach in 1972 and added the entire men's track and field program in 1978.
Coach McDonnell led the track team to their first national championship at the 1984 NCAA Indoor Championships while the school was a member of the now-defunct Southwest Conference. Since then, the University of Arkansas has won 40 NCAA championships, including 11 cross country, 19 indoor track and 10 outdoor track. Other schools have won only 24 combined NCAA titles in the three sports during the same period.
McDonnell's 40 national championships (which include 19 in indoor track, 10 in outdoor track and 11 in cross country) are more than any coach in any sport in the history of college athletics. The next highest is 31 by Pat Henry, former LSU and current track coach at Texas A&M University.
McDonnell also won five national triple crowns. (in 1984-85, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1994–95 and 1998–99) Texas-El Paso has won three national triple crowns. No other school has ever won one.
In addition, McDonnell team and individual achievements include:
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