Jim Bush, a legendary track and field coach at UCLA and master at developing world-class 400-meter runners, died Monday, the school announced. He was 90.
From 1965 to 1984, Bush guided UCLA to five NCAA championships. In the late 1960s, quartermilers Wayne Collett and John Smith became world-class runners at UCLA. Smith later set a world record in the 440. Collett won a silver medal at the 1972 Olympic Games.
Prior to Bush’s arrival, UCLA had never beaten USC in a dual meet. UCLA won 13 times over the Trojans and won NCAA outdoor titles in 1966, 1971, 1972, 1973 and 1978.