BYU women's cross country head coach Patrick Shane announced his retirement on Friday. Shane coached at BYU for 36 years. (BYU Photo)
Head BYU track and field coach Ed Eyestone announced on July 15 that women's cross country coach Patrick Shane is retiring after 36 years in Provo.
'Coach Shane has served BYU tirelessly for nearly four decades,' Eyestone said. 'He leaves a legacy of All-Americans, national champions and Olympians... his legacy will continue to influence the BYU track and cross country programs for years to come.'
Shane was hired as the women's cross country coach in 1980. Since the NCAA began sponsoring women's athletics in 1981, Shane led BYU to 31 national championship appearances in 35 seasons. He won four NCAA titles (1997, 1999, 2001, 2002) and finished as runner up four times. He won 24 conference championships and coached 30 All-Americans.
He was named the NCAA Cross Country Coach of the Year three times during his near 40 year tenure in Provo and earned 17 conference coach of the year awards.
'I'm thankful for the opportunity BYU has given me to coach and mentor hundreds of the world's most amazing women student athletes,' Shane said. 'I want to express my appreciation to all the coaches, staff and athletes I've had the pleasure to work with through the years.'
Shane also coached at the national and international levels. He was selected as the head coach of the USA Junior National Women's Team for the 1995 World Cross Country Championships, the head coach of the USA National Women's Team for the 1999 World Cross Country Championships and the head coach of the USA National Women's Track and Field Team for the IAAF World Junior Championships.
'Patrick has enjoyed incredible success in his long and industrious tenure at BYU,' said BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe. 'He has touched the lives of hundreds of student-athletes and will long be remembered as one of the great coaches in BYU history.'
Shane graduated from BYU in 1970 with a degree in physical education. In 1972 he received his master's degree.