Athletic Hall of Fame

Fred LaPlante

Sport(s): Cross Country, Track

Graduating Class: 1972

Induction Class: 2014

Four-year letter-winner in men's cross country and track...Member of the 1971 NAIA 2 mile relay National Championship Team and named an All-American...Member of the 1971 NAIA National Championship Indoor Track Team...1972 NCAA College Division 1,500m runner-up and named an All-American...Member of the 1972 NCAA College Division National Championship Outdoor Track Team...Member of the 1972 Drake Relays Distance Medley Relay Championship Team...Member of EMU's record books, setting the two mile relay and distance medley relay team records...Finished his career ranking third on EMU's all-time one-mile list...Served as a graduate assistant to Bob Parks when EMU won its first Mid-American Conference Track Championship in 1974...Served four years as an assistant coach, under Head Coach Bob Parks, winning four consecutive MAC titles...Served as head coach at University of Southern California (women), University of Michigan (men), San Diego State (men/women) and Lehigh University (men/women) winning a conference title at each institution...Highest NCAA National team finishes as a head coach: second at the Indoor Championships, third at the Outdoor Championships, and seventh at the Cross Country Championships...Contributed to the development of 18 Olympians, 25 National Champions, 83 All-Americans, and one World Paralympic Champion...Four-time NCAA District/Regional Coach of the Year...Coached four USA National teams

« Athletic Hall of Fame