Legendary Washington Husky track coach Ken Shannon passes away...
In a Facebook post, his son Tim wrote: "Coach Dad has saddled up and taken his last ride into the great beyond. The Shannon family wants to extend our gratitude to all the friends, coaches and former athletes who have taken the time to send condolences and visit Coach Dad the past couple years; it meant the world to him!"
Shannon, originally from Porterville, California, began his track career at Porterville High School as a shot putter, as well as a standout football player, where he was an all-league tackle.
Upon graduating from Porterville in 1956, he lettered in track and football at Porterville JC, before transferring to Occidental College in Los Angeles.
Shannon was an all-conference performer in football and the conference discus champion. He earned his B.S. in physical education in 1959 and did post-graduate work at Cal State-LA.
He started his coaching career at Occidental where he was an assistant football coach from 1960 to 1964, along with serving as freshman track coach from 1961-63. He was voted into the Occidental Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994.
After Occidental, Shannon was an assistant coach at UCLA under Hall Of Fame coach Jim Bush, where he coached his first two Olympians, Rick Sloan, who made the 1968 US Olympic team in the decathlon, along with Traugott Gloeckler of West Germany, who threw the shot put. Sloan finished seventh in Mexico City winning two events--the high jump and the pole vault, while Gloecker was 12th in the finals of the shot.
Shannon's 1966 UCLA squad won the NCAA championships.
Shannon was hired as the head men's track coach in the fall of 1968 by Husky athletic director Joe Kearney. In his early years on Montlake, the Huskies hosted the 1971 NCAA championships, as well as the 1972 AAU championships.
1975 saw the Huskies win the mile relay at the NCAA championships with Billy Hicks, Pablo Franco, Jerry Belur, and Keith Tinner.
In 1976, Shannon's throwers swept the Pac-8 meet at Edwards Stadium on the campus of the University of California, with Russ Vincent winning the shot, Borys Chambul the discus, Scott Neilson the hammer and Rod Ewaliko the javelin.
In his 31 years at Washington, the Husky men had seven top-12 finishes at the NCAA Championships and earned 81 All-American certificates. He guided the Huskies to four top-10 national finishes and produced 39 conference champions, 18 NCAA champions and coached 10 athletes to NCAA record-holder status.
It was his mastery of the field events, and particularly the throws, where Shannon made his legacy at the national and international levels.
Shannon was a javelin assistant on the 1976 US Olympic team, and was on the 1984 US Olympic men's team as the throws coach. He also earned appointments as a coach to several other US national teams, notably the 1979 Pan Am Games, and the 1986 Goodwill Games. In 1994, he was head coach of the U.S. national team for the Pan-African meet in Durham, North Carolina.
He gave up the head coaching position at Washington in 1997, only to return as a volunteer assistant coach, coaching among others, Aretha Hill, who made the 1996 Olympic team in the discus as a UW undergrad, before making three other US Olympic teams as a post-collegian.
He co-wrote a book with Jim Santos called, "Track: The Field Events", which encompassed both the jumping and throwing events
Shannon retired after the 2000 season, and moved with wife Janet to the Methow Valley, before moving back to the west side of the state, spending his final years on Whidbey Island.
He was enshrined into the Occidental College Hall of Fame in 1990 and the University of Washington Hall in 2000.
In a statement released by the University of Washington, Husky head coaches Maurica and Andy Powell said, "Our Husky hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of one of our very finest leaders."
"Our thoughts are with his family and the countless friends and former athletes whose lives he impacted greatly. The outpouring of love and support for Coach Shannon from our Husky community has been extraordinary, and it's a true testament to the incredible mentor and person he was in his lifetime."
Aretha Thurmond, four time US Olympian, who made her first team as an undergrad at UW: "Coach was one of the most important figures in my life. Coaching me to my first Olympic team changed the course of my career, but more importantly, the lessons, belief, and guidance given shaped who I became as a person. I will be forever grateful. Sending my deepest condolences and love to the Shannon family.
RIP Silver Fox. Go Huskies!"
Greg Gibson, first Husky to break 4 minutes in the mile in 1974: "The flood of great memories in my mind is pouring down my face in tears going back to 1971! One of the few things Coach taught was the love for chainsaws in the forest. Thanks Coach Shannon for all you did for me! Thanks, Tim, for all you did to help him these last few years. I am sad for you and the rest of the family's loss and for all the others who knew and were changed by this giant of a man, pillar of strength and standard for life!"
Mike Ramos, 1986 NCAA decathlon champion and former collegiate record holder: "My mentor and my hero! Coach taught me more about life than any other human on this earth. He will be so missed by all. Until I see you again. Rest in peace coach."
Cary Feldmann, 1971 Pan Am Games javelin champion, member Husky Hall Of Fame: "As one of his first athletes at the University of Washington, coach transformed me from a mediocre walk-on to a skilled competitor. He didn't need to do that, but his gracious teaching spirit saw something that was worth cultivating. Those were good years. He will be sorely missed."
Services are pending.
This post will be updated.
NOTE: The sports information offices of Washington, UCLA, and Occidental College contributed to this report.
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