SAN ANTONIO, Texas --- It was another honor
well earned. Lynchburg College legend Dr. Jack Toms was one of six
individuals Wednesday evening to be inducted into the U.S. Track
& Field and Cross Country Coaches Association’s
(USTFCCCA) Hall of Fame, held at the JW Marriott Hill Country.
Each of the honorees had a short highlight video shown at the
dinner (narrated by the Master of Ceremonies, ESPN’s John
Anderson) before giving an acceptance speech. Toms joined Cleve
Abbott of Tuskegee University, Doug Watts of Edinboro University,
Bert Lyle of Texas Woman’s University, Jeanette Bolden of
UCLA and Chick Hislop of Weber State University in the Class of
2010. Very few non-Division I coaches have been inducted in the
USTFCCCA Hall of Fame since the first class of 1995.
“I would like to express my appreciation to all the young
men and women who trained and competed on my teams over the
years,” said Toms in his speech. “I have received many
honors as a coach of the years. We have won numerous championships
and many of my athletes have won NCAA Titles. All of this pales in
comparison to all the relationships that have developed with these
young athletes. At the end of the day, it all comes down to these
relationships.”
Toms retired from active coaching this spring, but still serves as
the school’s athletic director. Toms is the most successful
coach in the history of LC athletics, with 67 conference and 26
NCAA Regional Coach of the Year awards, and transformed the LC
runners into a nationally-competitive program. He was recognized in
1995 as the Commonwealth of Virginia's top track and field coach
with the Walt Cormack Award from the Virginia Military Institute
for success at the college level. Dr. Toms was inducted into the
Lynchburg College Sports Hall of Fame in 1988.
Having coached the track and field teams for 31 years, Toms never
had a year in which he did not qualify an individual or team for
the NCAA national meet. He produced 88 All-Americans and 12
National Champions. His men's track & field teams swept the
conference indoor and outdoor competitions in 2004, 2005, 2006,
2007, 2009, and 2010 - with squads winning by large margins. He had
27 indoor and outdoor track sweeps and his teams under won 38 of
the last 41 league titles, and he has mentored the Regional and
NCAA MVP. He coached 11 NCAA South/Southeast Regional Athletes of
the Year in track and five in cross country and has served as the
regional representative for many years. Dr. Toms mentored three
National Athletes of the Year as well as the national champion in
cross country in 2009.
This release is courtesy of the Lynchburg College
sports information department.