DyeStatCal - internet home of California track

December, 2005

One of the State's All-Time Award winning Coaches, Kye Courtney, who guided his Hawthorne HS Cougars squads to an amazing string of team and individual successes back during the 1980's, was recently honored by the school he attended, Manhattan College, by being inducted into the School's Athletic Hall of Fame on December 3rd.

From Manhattan College

Manhattan College Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies - Saturday, December 3, 2005 - Smith Auditorium

	2005 Inductees are
Michael Burkoski ’59	Arthur Evans ’61 *	Cari-Lynn Piotrowski ‘92
Kye Courtney ’61 *	John Gorman ‘49	Larry St. Clair ‘61
Jennifer Drum ‘95	John Moran ‘50	*posthumously

at Manhattan College web-site about Hall of Fame Inductees:

Kye Courtney '61: A member of the Manhattan two mile relay team that set the world indoor record in 1961, running 7:32.8 on a 11-lap to the mile track, and later setting the two mile relay record on a 12-lap track. An IC4A champ in the mile relay and the school record holder in the 600 yard run, Courtney later coached the Hawthorne (CA) High Track and Field teams to six boys' and one girls' state team championships. He also coached numerous world class athletes, including two time Olympian and three time Olympic medallist Mike Marsh.

While a teacher/coach at Hawthorne HS, his Cougar squads were among the state's best ever, with a string of championships and records that have not been surpassed by any school in state history. As Jack Shepard does such a fine job below Kye would certainly have been called the "California Coach of the 80's." As Mike Kennedy points out Kye led the way for the increased travel that was allowed California prep squads as he branched out to have his teams meet the best from around the country.

We wrote an article in 1986 about the Hawthorne program and, as some knew him, "Coach El Commandante!" Link to Article - notice on the same page as the article that was a year we ranked the state squads Boys and Girls, note the combined totals of the Cougar Boys and Girls teams that year--typical of Hawthorne power. An amazing fact for his teams was when the National Record Setting 3:07.40 4x400 relay squad all graduated Hawthorne simply showed up the next year at state with an all underclass team and took that same event at the state meet.

Doug Speck

Jack Shepard of Track and Field News wrote about Kye and his legacy:

"Kye Courtney- Coach of the '80s

When one thinks of speed-oriented high school track & field programs, especially in California, one immediately thinks of the great Hawthorne program of the 1980s, coached by Kye Courtney.

His boys won the State title six times in that decade (1983-85, 1987-89) and the girls won in 1986. Only four California boys teams have won more state titles than Hawthorne's six [Jefferson, Muir at 8, Long Beach Poly, Manual Arts at 7, but none of them did it in such a compact period time- which indicates Hawthorne was DOMINANT in the '80s]

The rise to dominance began in 1982 when future-stars Henry Thomas, Michael Marsh and Sean Kelly entered the program, joining Raymond Young. The first culmination was 1985 when his teams set still-standing national records in the 4 x 400 and sprint medley. After a brief lull, the Curtis Conway/Travis Hannah led teams won three more titles in the late '80s.

During this period his athletes won 24 individual or relay titles, 15 by the boys, 9 by the girls. Most dominiant were the 4 x 400 teams as the boys won six in a row ('83-88) and the four ('83-86).

[surprisingly they never won a 4 x 100 title. Well they actually won boys in '89 but were DQd for a zone violation]."

Mike Kennedy of Track and Field News wrote about Kye and his legacy:

"Kye Courtney was the dominate men's California high school track and field team in the 1980's and one of the very best programs in the nation. However, Kye's most important legacy not only for track and field but for all high school sports in California was that he was instramental in changing the travel limitation of 500 miles that had existed up to that time. Kye, working through the Southern Section, was able to change the rules on travel so that teams could travel to anywere within the 50 states. He first went to Texas, where in 1984 his team set a national record of 3:07.40 in the 4 x 400 relay--he always called it coaches relay--that still stands after 22 years. Shortly thereafter he took the first ever California team to the famed Penn Relays and that opened the door for the world class teams from first Muir (Pasadena) featuring the legendary William "Obea" Moore and more reccently the national record setting women's relay teams from Long Beach Poly featurning such athletes as All-Americans Shalonda Solomon and Shana Woods to name just two. Again, all of the schools, coaches and athletes, not just in track, but in sports such as men's and women's basketball, baseball, softball and volleyball owe a real debt of gratitute to the efforts of Kye in bringing about the incredible opportunities that are now available."

The following tribute was typical of those on a Hawthorne HS alumni discussion board site following Kye's death

"Got the sad words today about my favorite coach Kye Courtney. He will always bring pleasant memories whether it's on the field or on campus. I had to really think about what impact he had upon me. I had him for 3 years of track and saw him work very hard getting the team to be No. 1 in the league. After I graduated I can still hear the good successes he had whether it's in the news or on the local paper. His hard training on me pushing me to the limits paid off for me by winning the 330 low hurdles in the final track meet (and placing in the top 3 in 3 other events), with that help from him I will always stand proud for what he did. I hated doing 5 miles loop around the city dodging cars and mud puddles but in the end we as a team became successful. I can only wish that same goes for football which I had with him for 2 years and he never gave up and I can still hear him screaming in my ear to get things done right. He kept pushing us harder and that applies to my jobs today. He was a great teacher who never let us get lazy. I really got a kick out of watching him play Donkey Basketball because he was a player who strived to win whether it's in sport or in class. He gave me confidence that I could do things in life and I imagine he passed this on this to other students so they can instill this sense into their children. My daughter who is 4 months old will benefit from him because I will carry the torch he had placed upon my heart. I do hope God had given him a pleasant trip to the heavens. Goodbye Coach Courtney and Godspeed."