Jud Logan’s athletic career wasn’t over when he began coaching at Ashland in 1995.
Indeed, by the time he made his fourth Olympic team in the hammer throw in 2004 he had already guided athletes to 23 NCAA Division II titles in throwing events.
His coaching accomplishments – and responsibilities – grew rapidly a year later when he became Ashland’s Head Track & Field Coach, leading the program to more success for the next 16 years before his death on January 3, 2022, at the age of 62.
Ultimately, Logan’s coaching success led the Eagles to three men’s NCAA DII titles (2019 indoor, 2019 outdoor, 2021 indoor – which were three track & field in succession as the 2020 competitions were wiped out by COVID-19). He was honored as USTFCCCA Coach of the Year five times nationally and 10 regionally.
The reach of Logan’s team success went beyond the athletic field. Known as a stickler for technique in competition, Logan had the same outlook when it came to academics in the classroom. His teams were named USTFCCCA Scholar Teams of the Year seven times while earning All-Academic Team honors on 14 occasions.
As with so many great coaches, Logan’s reach went beyond the numbers of conference and national achievements, and that became most evident in his final years when he was also a sought-after motivational speaker. His addresses included a graduating class at Ashland as a multi-time national championship coach as well as the football team at his alma mater Kent State.
His message was consistent: Be a “light giver – someone who sees more in you and helps light the path that you may have never seen or believed you could take, and then become one for others.”
That theme, says his brother Andy, resonated from Logan’s own coach, Al Schoterman, who earlier was an Olympic hammer thrower at Kent State and guided Logan to his first Olympic team in 1984. “Al Schoterman changed the course of Jud’s life,” Andy said.
Logan’s athletes included one of the most prolific ever – Kibwe Johnson’s heave of 25.08m (82-3½) in 2007 the 35-pound weight throw was an all-division collegiate best until 2015.
Johnson was one of five of Logan’s throwing athletes who earned USTFCCCA National DII Indoor Field Athlete of the Year honors along with Adriane Blewitt, Ryan Bloughney, Bryan Vickers and Kurt Roberts. All won three or more national indoor or outdoor titles along with Jackie Jeschelnig and Becky Ball.
Among the other athletes who earned national titles under the direction of Logan – a number which totaled 77 events – include Katie Nageotte (later Moon), the 2021 Olympic women’s pole vault gold medalist, and Trevor Bassitt, a four-time indoor or outdoor USTFCCCA Track Athlete of the Year. A total of 456 athletes earned All-American under coaching and/or direction.
This is the fourth Hall of Fame to induct Logan, joining the Kent State Varsity “K” (1990), Ohio Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches (2022) and National Throws Coaches Association (NTCA) Thrower’s (2015).
