When news began to float that Tom Heinonen had announced his retirement at the end of the 2002-03 track and field season, a sense of shock and surprise came over me.
Not because it wasn’t expected. After all, Heinonen is 57, and at that age, it can’t be easy to command a nationally competitive program.
But instead the shock came because, well, it’s just going to be weird not seeing him on the Hayward Field sidelines, coaching the athletes he’s loved so much in his 28 years as the head cross country coach and soon-to-be 27 years in track and field.
He admitted he really never liked recruiting — who can blame him — but that wasn’t his strength anyway. The mystique and aura of Oregon track took care of that for him, so his true colors really showed when the athletes put on the green and yellow for which Oregon is so well-known.
Instead, it was the personal instruction he handed out that really mattered the most. One of the greater minds in the sport — he is the dean of Pacific-10 Conference coaches for a reason — Heinonen seemingly knew about his team. He wasn’t ever afraid to answer a question about any aspect of his team, and if he really didn’t know, he wasn’t going to tell you.
Heinonen surely will be remembered the most for his 1985 squad that took home the NCAA Championship. But what most people will forget is that Oregon was a juggernaut back in the day when it wasn’t so cool to lead a women’s team, especially if you were a male. In the three years before the Ducks won their only championship, Oregon finished fourth, fifth and fourth again, respectively.
The past few years have been lean, especially for the track program. But it is beginning to look up again as Oregon returns 16 seniors. It could be another magical year for the Ducks. An NCAA Championship may be out of reach — after all, because of Heinonen’s efforts way back when, women’s track has definitely surfaced as a mainstream attraction — but it’s going to be a year to remember in Eugene.
Maybe not because Oregon is going to be better than ever. Maybe not because Hayward Field will be packed to the brim every day. And maybe not because Becky Holliday, Sarah Malone and the rest of the Ducks will set national records.
But definitely because another one of Oregon’s traditions is leaving.
Bill Bowerman, Bill Dellinger and Bill Hayward: Move over because you’ve got some company coming.
Duck fans, you’ve got him until June.
Enjoy Tom while you can.
Related Links
University of Oregon Track
Heinonen Announces Retirement at End of Track Season
Tom Henoan Biography
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