KALAMAZOO, MI – Memories and hardware are the remnants of what was once a nationally-renowned men’s cross country program at Western Michigan University.
The team’s NCAA championship trophies from 1964 and 1965 remain the school’s only national titles in any sport, and although he’d never admit it, coach George Dales was the man behind the success.
WMU’s longtime coach of men’s cross country and track and field died Wednesday, Sept. 27 at age 96, leaving behind a legacy unmatched since he began coaching Broncos athletes in 1953.
"George impacted countless lives and was a world-renowned ambassador for the sports of cross country and track and field," WMU athletic director Kathy Beauregard said.