CONVENTION: Carius, Pedersen Win Distinguished Coaching Awards
ORLANDO — Success, dedication and long service aren’t mutually exclusive.
That’s why the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) established the George Dales Award and the Jimmy Carnes Award to honor those coaches who embody each of those ideals to the fullest.
Al Carius and Kirk Pedersen do just that.
Carius, the current head cross country coach and assistant track & field coach at North Central (Ill.), is the recipient of the George Dales Award, while Pedersen, the current head cross country coach and co-head track & field coach at Central Missouri, earns the Jimmy Carnes Award.
Both were given their hardware during Wednesday’s Opening Session of the 2016 USTFCCCA Convention, which is being held at the Orlando Grande Lakes Resort.
George Dales Award
Al Carius
The George Dales Award is named in honor of longtime Western Michigan coach George Dales for his relentless pursuit in the growth and development of track and field and cross country over more than half of a century. This award is presented annually by the USTFCCCA to a distinguished individual who, through their efforts, has enhanced the profession of coaching track and field and cross country.
Carius, like Dales, has had a coaching career that spanned five decades. He just finished his 51st cross country season with a flourish (The Cardinals set a NCAA Division III meet record for the largest margin of victory) and recently embarked on his 45th track cycle.
Over those years, Carius coached hundreds of athletes — and as of this writing, 197 of those former student-athletes are now college or high school coaches.
Carius was inducted into the USTFCCCA Hall of Fame in 1996 and the Association named the NCAA Division III Men’s Program of the Year Award after the legendary Cardinal (Al Carius Program of the Year Award) starting in the 2008-09 academic year.
North Central (Ill.) has been a powerhouse on the NCAA Division III level under Carius, winning 17 XC titles, six more in outdoor track & field and four more indoors.
Past Winners
2015 – Irving “Boo” Schexnayder, LSU
2014 – Dr. Rick McGuire, Missouri
2013 – Bill Falk, Rhode Island
2012 – Ed Temple, Tennessee State
2011 – Sam Bell, Indiana
2010 – Stan Huntsman, Texas
2009 – Dr. Leroy Walker, North Carolina Central
2008 – Steve Simmons, Cal Poly
2007 – Victor Lopez, Rice
2006 – George Dales, Western Michigan
Jimmy Carnes Award
Kirk Pedersen
The Jimmy Carnes Distinguished Service Award is presented to individuals who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in their service to the Association and to the sports of cross country and track & field.
Pedersen has held many roles in the Association over the years, notably as a member of the USTFCCCA Board of Directors while he was the NCAA Division II Track & Field President. It was on the USTFCCCA Board of Directors where Pedersen served on the Budget & Audit Committee, which was integral to the early years of the Association.
Pedersen was on the USTFCCCA Board of Directors when current CEO Sam Seemes was hired and helped make it a seamless transition in the evolution from the U.S. Track Coaches Association to the current form of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
As a coach, Pedersen spent the past 28 seasons at Central Missouri as the head cross country coach. Pederson is currently in his 19th season as co-head coach of the track & field program as well.
Pedersen was named the USTFCCCA Division II National Indoor and Outdoor Coach of the Year in 2015.
Past Winners
2015 – Kari Kluckhohn, North Central (Ill.)
2014 – Patty Vavra, Missouri Southern
2013 – Dean Hayes, Middle Tennessee State
2012 – Gary Wilson, Minnesota
2011 – Dave Harris, Emporia State
2010 – Jim Sackett, Cal Poly Pomona
2009 – Doug Watts, Edinboro University
2008 – Bill Thornton, St. Olaf College
2007 – John Copeland, Rhode Island