Copyright © 2008 Ed Bagley

Gonzaga University Athletic Director Mike Roth made the most astute move since the hiring of Mark Few as his basketball coach by recently hiring legendary high school coach Pat Tyson as Gonzaga's first full-time running coach.

Roth could not have found a better choice than Tyson, who has not yet had a full-time opportunity to run a complete college cross-country and track and field program.

Tyson just completed the spring season as the track coach for South Eugene High School in Oregon. He spent last season coaching the cross-country teams and distance runners at the University of Kentucky.

Apparently his coaching methods did not go over as well in the south as in the Pacific Northwest, where he built a sterling reputation for success in Eastern Washington at Mead High School. In 19 years—from 1986 through 2004—Tyson's Panthers produced 12 state cross-country titles, 9 individual cross-country champions, and 17 individual track middle distance champions at 1,600 and 3,200 meters.

To show how dominate Mead was, I was near the finish line at the 1993 state cross-country meet in Pasco (WA) when the Panthers made a statement in the 5,000 meters (3.1 miles) like nothing I have ever seen in state competition. First across the line was Matt Davis in 14:09.3 , followed by his brother Micah Davis in 14:46, followed by Rob Aubrey in third at 14:48, then Greg James finished 8th in 15:13.9 and Skiy De Tray finished 28th in 15:43. Matt Davis set a course record and won this third consecutive state cross-country title.

Mead runners in blue and gold streamed past in a 1-2-3-8-28 finish and won with 31 points. Mead's slowest scoring runner was 15:43! It was the year that Mead won its 6th straight title under Pat Tyson's reign. Kennewick finished as runner-up with 102 points.

Mead's all-time record holder for the 1,600 and 3,200 is Chris Lewis, who set the marks in 1989 by running 4:04.6 and 8:50.65. Not many schools have runners who could keep up with the likes of Chris Lewis or Matt Davis.

Tyson's harrier squads posted an amazing dual meet record of 145-6 in cross-country competition. No slouch himself, Tyson competed with Steve "Pre" Prefontaine at the University of Oregon and clocked a 13:37 in the 3-mile and a 28:34 in the 6-mile. He was a walk-on after graduating from Lincoln High School in Tacoma (WA).

Tyson was Pre's roommate at Oregon, but far more important, he was a member of the 1971 Duck cross-country team that won the NCAA national championship.

The spillover effect of Tyson's personality, accessibility and passion for running positively influenced Mead runners and brought students into the program that may otherwise have never been involved in athletics. Students who also might have played other sports only to ride the bench came into Tyson's program because they could compete rather than watch their teammates win.

Tyson's philosophy and system became infectious in the Greater Spokane League. A league that had done well spawned other teams that won state titles when Mead did not. Beginning in 1988 with the first of Tyson's 12 Mead cross-country championships, the Greater Spokane League has won EVERY 4A championship since then.

The fact that Pat Tyson is returning to the Great Pacific Northwest to coach at Gonzaga University is great news for prep runners in Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Great high school runners will follow Tyson to Gonzaga like bees to honey.

Pat Tyson does not only eat, sleep and live running 24 hours a day, he is not only a high school coach with no peer, he is a coaching legend before he starts. Gonzaga is about to make an impact in running like it did in basketball.