Courtesy: San Jose State Athletics
Release: 11/03/2011
Courtesy: San Jose State Athletics
Augie Argabright coached the Spartans to more than 1,000 victories as the Spartans cross country coach.
After six decades of coaching local cross country runners locally, nationally and internationally, San Jose State University's Augie Argabright is retiring from coaching. Marie Tuite, the Spartans' deputy director of athletics, made the announcement.
Considered a pioneer specifically in women's cross country circles, Argabright spent the last 18 seasons as the Spartans' first women's cross country coach. He added the duties of men's cross country head coach in 1997 when the university reinstated the sport after a nine-year absence.
"Everyone connected with San Jose State athletics congratulates Augie on a distinguished coaching career. From his days coaching the San Jose Cindergals AAU championship teams to starting the San Jose State women's cross country program and re-establishing the men's program, Augie was a positive influence on the lives of countless young men and women. We wish he and his wife, Kathy, the best in their future plans," says Tuite.
HIS SAN JOSE STATE LEGACY
At San Jose State, his women's teams won the Cross Country only national invitational championships in 1999 and 2005. His overall win-loss record leading the two Spartan programs was 1,052-941-1. The Spartans earned 18 All-Western Athletic Conference honors and finished in the top-10 at the conference women's championship meet seven times.
His student-athletes earned more than 100 Academic All-WAC honors while he was head coach.
"I told many our athletes, if you're All-WAC academically, it's going to look just as good on your resume as if you're All-WAC athletically," Argabright says.
A NATIONAL FIGURE IN HIS SPORT
Before taking the San Jose State position, Argabright formed the San Jose Cindergals AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) team in 1967 and was its director and head coach for 15 years. The Cindergals won nine AAU national championships with Argabright in charge. Twice, he was appointed to coach the USA national cross country team. Five-time U.S. Olympian Francie Larrieu is his best-known protégée.
"We (he and his wife Kathy) will do some traveling. One of our goals is to visit all the major league ballparks. We'll be able to spend a lot of time with our four grand-daughters, because they are within a 15-minute walk from where we live," says Argabright.
"I appreciate all the runners who have run for us. They've all worked really hard, were very dedicated and many of them have gone on to successful careers in their field."
Argabright's final meet as San Jose State's cross country head coach will be at the NCAA West Regional Championships, Saturday, November 12, on the Stanford University course.
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Keith Conning: Thank you Augie for all the things you have done for our sport over the years. We will miss you. Augie was a railroad train engineer. In 1992 I gave Augie and his wife a ride in my rental car from the New Orleans Airport to their room at Tulane University for the Olympic Trials.
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Courtesy San Jose State
Augie Argabright
Position: Head Coach
Alma Mater: San Jose State
Graduating Year: 1971
Experience: 17 Years
Phone: (408) 924-1465
Email: sjsuspartancc@yahoo.com
Augie Argabright embarks on his 18th season as the San Jose State University cross country head coach. The women’s head coach since 1994, he added the duties as the men’s head coach in 1997 when the program was reinstated.
His student-athletes have earned 14 All-Western Athletic Conference (WAC) honors, 115 Academic All-WAC accolades and two Cross Country Only national championships. In addition, two of his women’s teams were honored for academic excellence by the Women’s Intercollegiate Cross Country Coaches Association.
During his five-decade professional career, he has coached 12 high school cross country All-Americans, 10 U.S. cross country champions and seven high school state track and field
champions.
A pioneer in women’s cross country circles, he formed the San Jose Cindergals Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) team in 1967 and was its director and head coach until 1982. The Cindergals were recognized as one of the world’s top teams under his direction and won nine AAU national championships.
“Augie is one of those very rarest of coaches who combines science and knowledge, with passion for what he does to help young people better themselves,” said Brooks Johnson, former Stanford University and USA national team track and field coach.
Argabright coached five-time U.S. Olympian and 1992 Opening Ceremonies flag bearer Francie Larrieu and two-time U.S. Olympian Cyndy Poor. He was a three-time coach of the U.S. Track and Field team and a two-time coach of the U.S. National cross country team.
The 1971 San Jose State graduate established the cross country and track and field programs at West Valley College in 1977. West Valley won two state championships in cross country and two in track and field. He was named the 1980 California Community College Coach of the Year.
“This is a great place to run if you want to be successful in the classroom and on the course,” said Argabright. “With our main schedule in the fall and our lighter schedule in the spring, you can take more classes or harder classes in the spring. If you want to run in college, academics must come first. Then, this is the best place to come.”
Argabright and his wife, Kathy, reside in San Jose. They have two grown children, Jeff and Meg.
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Cyndy Poor - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
... Cindergals, an early powerhouse girl's track team under coach Augie Argabright. The team was dominated by distance runners, most notably Francie Larrieu, ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyndy_Poor - Similarto Cyndy Poor - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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