BREAKING: Pat Tyson announces his retirement from Gonzaga following the end of the 2026-27 season...
SPOKANE--In an announcement from the school Sunday afternoon, Gonzaga director of track and cross country Pat Tyson (left, with James Mwaura & assistant Riley Campbell at 2023 NCAA championships/Paul Merca photo) announced his retirement, effective June 30, 2027.
"It's not easy to put into words, but I want to share that the 2026-27 season will be my final year as Director of Men's and Women's Cross Country and Track and Field at Gonzaga University," Tyson said. "After 19 incredible years with our Zag runners, I've decided that next season will be my "victory lap" before passing the baton to the next leader of this special program. Gonzaga has been an amazing place to coach, and I'm deeply grateful for the athletes, alumni, colleagues, and friends who have made these years so meaningful. Being part of this program and the lives of so many student-athletes has truly been the honor of a lifetime."
"I'm confident the future of Gonzaga Cross Country and Track and Field is bright and that the transition will be a smooth one for our athletes, alumni, and the entire Zag community."
Tyson has served as Director of Cross Country and Track and Field and Head Men's Coach at Gonzaga since the 2007-08 season, building the program into one of the premier distance running and track programs in the West Region and on the national stage. Under his leadership, the Bulldogs consistently ranked among the nation's best teams, including six straight seasons with a Top-10 West Region finish and historic Top-15 finishes at NCAA Championships. His student-athletes set new program records in every single distance in indoor, outdoor, and cross country during his tenure.
Highlights of Tyson's storied career include three West Coast Conference Coach of the Year honors, coaching student-athletes to seven All-American recognitions, and a decades-long legacy of competitive success and athlete development.
Before his tenure at Gonzaga, Tyson was one of the most decorated high school coaches in the state of Washington at Shorecrest in north Seattle, and then on to Mead HS in Spokane. He also coached for short stints at the University of Oregon and at the University of Kentucky.
During Tyson’s time of coaching at Mead, the Harriers achieved an impressive record of 180-8 in one of the toughest dual-meet leagues in the nation. Reaching state competition 18 consecutive years to win 12 state titles, they never placed worse than third. During that time, Mead had a nine-year streak when they never lost a competition. In his last three years at Mead, Tyson’s teams placed third and fourth at the Nike Team National Championships held in Portland, Oregon.
For his remarkable work at Mead, Tyson was named Washington State Coach of the Year multiple times. He was nominated for National High School Coach of the Year when his Mead teams were ranked No. 1 by The Harrier magazine. Tyson produced nine Washington State prep champions and nine Foot Locker Cross Country Championship finalists.
Tyson, who attended Lincoln HS in Tacoma, ran at the University of Oregon under legendary coaches Bill Bowerman, and Bill Dellinger. He was part of the Oregon team (photo courtesy University of Oregon archives) that won the NCAA cross country championships in 1971. He was a roommate of the great Steve Prefontaine, who was an American record holder over several distances on the track from 2000 to 10000 meters, as well as the first man in NCAA history to win four straight national titles in the 3 mile/5000 meters, and a 1972 US Olympian at 5000.
"We are incredibly grateful for Coach Tyson's years of dedicated service and leadership to Gonzaga University and our Cross Country and Track and Field programs," Gonzaga Athletic Director Chris Standiford said. "His commitment and service to our student-athletes, alumni, and the entire Gonzaga community have left a lasting mark on this program, and we look forward to a celebratory final season next year."
In recognition of Tyson's retirement, Gonzaga Athletics is pleased to announce Jake Stewart as the new Director of Cross Country and Track and Field effective July 1, 2027. Stewart, who currently serves as Head Coach of the Women's Cross Country and Track and Field teams, will assume oversight of the combined women's and men's programs beginning in the 2027-28 season.
Stewart, who is a native of Kelso, joined the Gonzaga coaching staff in 2018 and has led the women's program to unprecedented heights, including ten NCAA Championship individual qualifiers, two straight years of a runner receiving an All-American recognition, and the highest national ranking in Cross Country program history.
NOTE: The sports information offices of Gonzaga and Oregon contributed to this report.
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