RICHMOND, Ky. – Rick Erdmann was never supposed to be a distance coach. The native of Ligonier, Pa. competed as a sprinter in high school and got his first coaching gig on the gridiron; However, after winning more than 60 conference titles during his 33 years at Eastern Kentucky University, Erdmann is one of the most successful cross country coaches in NCAA history.

On Saturday, Oct. 27, Erdmann led the EKU men’s and women’s cross country teams to a sweep of the Ohio Valley Conference Championships in Oxford, Ala. The conference crowns were the 60th and 61st of his storied career. Erdmann won his first OVC title in 1982, and 30 years later, the excitement is still the same.

“I enjoy the competition,” Erdmann said. “And it’s exciting to see the athletes after they win.”

It is not just conference titles that have defined Erdmann’s career, though. He has earned 58 OVC Coach of the Year awards and was named the 1978 National Junior Cross Country Coach of the Year during his final season at Hagerstown (Md.) Junior College. He has also coached numerous All-Americans, most recently Lydia Kosgei, Soufiane Bouchikhi and Ben Toroitich, and an Olympic qualifier in Jackie Humphrey.

However, the accolades are not why Erdmann has remained in coaching after all these years.

“The most gratifying part is being around young people,” he said. “I don’t dwell on any particular [accomplishments]. I just enjoy a challenge.”

In distance running, he has found that challenge. Despite his roots in sprinting and football, Erdmann has embraced distance running and it has become an integral part of his life.

“Distance running is very challenging,” he said. “It’s one of those things where … whatever you put into it, that’s what you get out of it, whether you’re trying to break a seven-minute mile or you’re trying to run a four-minute mile. I think that’s one of the neat things about it. It takes discipline, mental toughness and the will to train to have success, at whatever level.”

Erdmann backs up what he preaches. He ran a 50-mile race in his 40s and he has completed a few marathons in less than three hours. When he was in his mid-60s, Erdmann won the 60-69 age group at the Great Race in Pittsburgh, coving the 5K course in a time of 18:50.

“The course was all downhill, but I don’t tell anybody that,” Erdmann laughed.

By staying in shape himself, Erdmann has, throughout the years, been able to train with his runners, many of whom keep in touch with their former coach.

“I’m not real technical with the internet, but on my answering machine right now there’s a phone call from a young man that came here from Germany and ran for Eastern,” Erdmann said. “He called and wanted to remind me that 25 years ago, we won the OVC in cross country. I thought that was kind of neat.”

It is that connection with his runners that has kept Erdmann at EKU and turned the school into a national powerhouse in the college distance running world.

“One of the positive things about this program at EKU is that you can take yourself to whatever level you aspire to,” Erdmann said. “As I said, some are just aspiring to place at conference, some are trying to hit particular times and some want to be All-Americans and get to the national championships … whatever it is, it’s possible in this program.”

The Erdmann Legacy

OVC Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year Awards (26)
1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012

OVC Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year Awards (19)
1983, 1984, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012

OVC Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Coach of the Year Awards (7)
1984, 1985, 1986, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1999

OVC Women’s Indoor Track and Field Coach of the Year Awards (2)
1993, 1999

OVC Men’s Indoor Track and Field Coach of the Year Awards (4)
1984, 1994, 1995, 2008

OVC Women’s Cross Country Championships (26)
1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012

OVC Men’s Cross Country Championships (18)
1984, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012

OVC Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships (9)
1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1999

OVC Women’s Indoor Track and Field Championships (4)
1985, 1986, 1993, 1999

OVC Men’s Indoor Track and Field Championships (4)
1984, 1994, 1995, 2008