Gary Stolz (former Miraleste HS of Palos Verdes and Stanford University (class of 1994) on Vin Lananna

Gary Stolz (former Miraleste HS of Palos Verdes and Stanford University (class of 1994) on Vin Lananna

Vin Lananna and Gary Stolz (Bill Leung photo)

Bill Leung on Gary Stolz and Vin Lananna - "the "stud" coach statement sounded familiar, then I remembered I wrote it when I interviewed Gary for Cal Track News magazine. Vin was in his first year of coaching at Stanford and Gary was a carry over from the Brooks Johnson Stanford teams. Gary ran very well his junior year in cross, he kept qualifying from Pac-10, to regionals to the NCAA Cross Country finals. Vin had asked him what his goal was in the final and Gary immediately said top 5. Vin, I think, was surprised and told Gary to consider top 10. Gary started out slowly and kept on picking off people in the race. Bob Kennedy had run away with the race but Gary came on strong to pass Mark Carroll to finish second. Vin's first All-American at Stanford."

(ed note - Doug Speck - Stanford has obviously always had a fine reputation in athletics in general, with the track and cross-country programs fabled histories. But the level of success in all areas of those programs was cranked up over the last decade and a tad with the presence of Vin Lananna, who came to the Farm from Dartmouth, where he had done a fine job, but the academic and athletic tradition of the California Pac-10 school gave him a chance to really attract and work with a quality of athlete at the absolute top level in the nation. He did some super things, as summarized in the Stanford release that follows former Stanford star Gary Stolz's comments below. I think it was Stolz who described Vin as a "stud's coach" early on at Stanford, with the description obviously a very accurate one. It looks like a fine choice was made for the new Men's CC Coach in Andrew Gerard, from William and Mary, and with experience at Stanford during Lannana's tenure, with a William and Mary summary of the 2002 Fall Cross-Country season, where they were 14th in the NCAA Div I Finals, at the end of this article. Dena Evans, who has done a super job helping the Stanford Women's program recently, will head that side of the program. We could not let Vin get out of California without someone describing what it was like to work with and around him, and I think Gary Stolz did a fine job in the following. Certainly one of the all-time great distance coaches in US History - we were lucky to have him here for a time!! - Thanks Gary!!!).

Stanford was lucky to have him. When Vin Lananna arrived at the Farm, the cross country and track teams were known for having had a couple of shining stars over the course of the last 8 or 10 years. But nobody would have, at that time, classified the program as a powerhouse that was always fighting for the next NCAA title.

His record at Stanford speaks for itself. Just take a look in the NCAA championship lists, the trophy cases, and the Olympic rosters. But Vin is more than a guy who puts together a great training schedule. His real strength is that he can maximize every one of his athlete's potential. Many of his top performers were walk-ons, not even noticed by most of the top recruiting coaches. If a guy has the inner potential to run a 4:05 mile, he'll find himself running 4:05 under Vin.

The record books also don't speak to the sense of pride his athletes have, both in themselves and the Stanford program. He's inspired them to believe in themselves, and this is a gift that carries far beyond the track or the years in college. Vin has always believed in the ideal of American distance runners being competitive against the world's best. He's devoted immeasurable time, energy, coaching, and more to work towards this goal, much of which is invisible to the general public. Whether it's bringing a cadre of Kenyan runners to train in the area, helping develop a post-collegiate team environment, hosting world class track meets, or just inspiring a developing athlete to get back on the proverbial horse after a bad race, Vin's the man.

I say that Stanford was lucky to have had him. But I'd also say that the sport of competitive running has been lucky to have had him. Vin, I wish you luck and thanks for the ride, it's been a good one. Oh, and don't forget to keep your shoelaces tied.

Gary Stolz
Stanford, '94

Stanford Release on Vin Lannana moving on to Oberlin College as Director of Athletics

Vin Lananna Accepts Oberlin College Director Of Athletics Position
Director of Track and Field/Cross Country won five NCAA titles during 11-year tenure at Stanford.

July 1, 2003

Stanford, Calif. - Vin Lananna, the Director of Track and Field/Cross Country at Stanford for the past 11 years, has accepted the position of Delta Lodge Director of Athletics and professor of physical education at Oberlin College, Oberlin President Nancy S. Dye announced Tuesday.

"Stanford Track and Field has made unbelievable progress under the guidance of Vin Lananna," said Stanford Athletic Director Dr. Ted Leland. "Vin not only brought Stanford Track and Field into the national spotlight, but into the international circle as well. Stanford Track and Field athletes are known worldwide. We'll miss Vin, but the foundation for success that he has brought to Stanford Track and Field remains rock solid."

During his 11-year tenure at Stanford, Lananna's teams won five NCAA titles. In 2000, he led the Stanford men's track and field squad to its first NCAA Outdoor Track And Field title since 1934. Stanford also swept the 1996 men's and women's NCAA Cross Country crowns before the men repeated in 1997 and returned to the throne again in 2002. His Stanford cross country teams added 14 Regional titles (seven men, seven women) and 15 Pac-10 titles (nine women, six men).

Lananna has been named the NCAA National Coach of the Year five times, three times with the Stanford men's cross country squad (1996, '97, 2002), once with the Stanford women's cross country team (1996) and once with the Dartmouth men's cross country squad (1986). He has been an NCAA Regional Cross Country Coach of the Year 19 times, 15 on the women's side and four with men's teams. In addition, Lananna has earned a total of 14 conference cross country/track and field Coach of the Year honors.

Prior to his tenure at Stanford, Lananna served as Assistant Director of Athletics at Dartmouth, where he also directed the men's and women's cross country/track and field programs from 1980 until the fall of 1992. In 12 seasons with the Big Green, Lananna had a team qualify for the NCAA Championships every year with his men's squad finishing as the NCAA runner-up in both 1986 and 1987. His track and field/cross country teams won 13 Ivy League titles.

He began his coaching career in 1975 as head coach at the C.W. Post campus of Long Island University, in Brookville, New York. Lananna earned a Bachelors of Arts degree in history and psychology in 1975 at C.W. Post, where he was captain of the cross country team. He later earned a Masters of Science degree at Long Island University.

Since 1994, he has also served as president and co-founder of the Nike Farm Team, a post-collegiate program for corporately funded professional middle distance and distance athletes based at Stanford.

Lananna recently added to his lengthy list of accomplishments when he was named the Team USA middle distance coach for the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece.

William and Mary end of Season Cross-Country release on Cross-Country - Coach Andrew Gerard the new Stanford Cross-Country Coach

Head coach Andrew Gerard was named the CAA Coach of the Year for the fourth-straight season and for the fifth time in his career with the Tribe. This year, W&M Tribe finished second in the NCAA Southeast Regional meet, earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships, where the squad finished 14th out of 31 teams. Under Gerard’s guidance, the Tribe captured its third-consecutive conference championship, winning the title by 32 points. Six of the top-10 finishers in the CAA Championship represented William and Mary, including three of the top four.

The conference also recognized the 2002 All-CAA men’s cross country team. The top-12 finishers at the conference championships were named to the all-conference squad, seven of which were William and Mary runners.

All-CAA Honorees*
Name, School
Ed Moran, William and Mary
John O’Connor, William and Mary
Pat Riley, Delaware
Jacob Frey, William and Mary
Evan Kays, James Madison
John Fraser, James Madison
Pius Stucki, Virginia Commonwealth
Charlie Hurt, William and Mary
West Garrett, William and Mary
Michael Keeling, William and Mary
Mike Sadowsky, Delaware
Adam Otstot, William and Mary
* listed in order of finish at CAA Championships

2002 CAA Athlete of the Year: Ed Moran, William and Mary
2002 CAA Rookie of the Year: Matthew Keally, William and Mary
2002 CAA Coach of the Year: Andrew Gerard, William and Mary

Stanford Names Andrew Gerard Head Men's Cross Country Coach

Dena Evans, Edrick Floreal and Robert Weir are also promoted to head coaching positions.

July 29, 2003

STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford University has announced the hiring of Andrew Gerard as head men's cross country coach and assistant men's track and field coach, athletic director Dr. Ted Leland announced today. In addition, Leland announced the promotion of Dena Evans to head women's cross country coach, Edrick Floreal to head women's track and field coach and Robert Weir to head men's track and field coach.

Gerard, who has served as the head men's track and cross country coach at the College of William and Mary since 1997, will be entering his second stint on The Farm. He served as an assistant cross country and track and field coach at Stanford from 1993-1996, and helped guide both the men's and women's cross country programs to NCAA Championships in 1996.

"We are very excited about Andrew returning to Stanford," Leland said. "He did an outstanding job during his time here, and will do great things with our cross country and track and field programs."

Evans has served as assistant women's cross country and track and field coach the last four seasons. She is a 1996 graduate of Stanford, and earned three All-America honors as a middle distance runner on The Farm.

Floreal, who primarily works with Stanford's sprinters, hurdlers and jumpers, just completed his fifth year on The Farm as associate head coach of the women's track and field program. He represented Canada in the triple jump at both the 1988 and 1992 Summer Olympics, in addition to leading Arkansas to four NCAA team titles during his collegiate career.

Weir, who most recently served as the associate head coach for the men's track and field program, has worked with the shot put, discus, hammer and javelin throwers in his 10 seasons at Stanford. He is a three-time Olympian in the discus for Great Britain (1984, 1996 and 2000), and was selected as his nation's track and field team captain in Sydney, Australia in 2000.

"Dena, Edrick and Robert are all very deserving of the promotion to head coaching positions," Leland said. "We know they will continue the outstanding tradition of Stanford cross country and track and field."