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Date: August 11, 2003
Contact: Bill Sodoma

 

Coffin named men's cross country/track and field coach

WATERVILLE, Maine --

Todd Coffin is coming back to Colby College after 20 years away to take over the men's cross-country/track and field program.

Coffin, a member of the Colby Class of 1983 and an All-American steeplechase performer, begins his head coaching duties August 25. He takes over for Jim Wescott, who was Coffin's coach and who retired last spring from Colby after 25 years.

"I was part of Jim's first recruiting class," Coffin said. "It's really an honor and a privilege to take over for him. I sometimes feel a little daunted because he was so successful and respected. I had the best teacher I could possibly have."

Coffin was Colby's first NCAA champion in any sport after he won the steeplechase title at the 1983 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

"Todd is one of the most decorated runners to have graduated from Colby," said Marcella Zalot, Colby's Athletics Director. "His involvement with the team and the program has continued as an alumnus of the College and it is wonderful that he has agreed to take over the program from Jim Wescott.I am excited to have Todd on board and know he will continue to build upon the rich tradition of the cross-country and track programs."

Coffin finished in sixth place in the steeplechase at the national meet as a sophomore and then took second place as a junior. He had a winning time of 8 minutes, 56.37 seconds in the 1983 title race and still holds the school record at 8:55.48.

"I remember how comfortable it felt to win that day. Within two laps I was in the lead and I was waiting for the rest of the field to come with me -- and they didn't," Coffin said. "After crossing the finish line I ran over to coach and we embraced and my family was there as well. It was one of the greatest days of my life."

Coffin earned a B.A. in geology from Colby in 1983 and an M.S. in geology from Purdue University in 1986. Since his graduation from Colby and Purdue, Coffin has worked as a geologist in Texas, Massachusetts and Maine."

Coffin, who now lives in Freeport, Maine, was the head coach of men's cross-country and track and field at University of Southern Maine in 1994-95. He also was an assistant cross-country coach at Bowdoin College from 1990 to 1993.

Coffin has stayed active in the running world and is still one of the top male runners in Maine. He was named Maine Runner of the Year in 1994 by New England Running magazine and was voted Maine Runner of the Year by the Maine Track Club in 1993. Coffin had his track shoes retired by Colby in 1993.

Coffin graduated from Morse (Maine) High School in 1979 and was the Maine Class A champion in the mile during his senior year.