SPORTS NEWS

Lewis and Hircock Honored

Former Coaches Celebrated With Track Naming

At the start of the 2023 Mountain East Conference Track and Field Championships, FSU held a dedication ceremony officially naming the track at Bobcat Stadium in honor of a pair of former coaches – Dr. Robert W. Lewis and Dr. Charles H. Hircock – and their astounding careers and contributions to the track and field programs.

“We believe that there was much more to Frostburg Track and Field and Cross Country than just team and individual victories,” the pair commented in their remarks. “We tried very hard to keep everything in proper perspective, wanting our athletes to train diligently and compete hard, of course, but also to make their sports experiences enjoyable and memorable for the right reasons.”

Lewis served as the head coach of the Men’s Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field teams and the Men’s Cross-Country team from 1970-2001, as well as the Women’s Cross-Country team from 1986-2000. In his more than 30 years of coaching, Lewis was named NCAA Division III National Coach of the Year three times and led FSU to its only National Championship titles in school history for Indoor Track and Field (1986) and Outdoor Track and Field (1987).

As a top assistant with the programs, Hircock served as the throwing coach and recruiting coordinator for the Men’s and Women’s Track and Field teams from 1971 to 2001, helping the Bobcats to the previously mentioned championships.

Combined, Frostburg placed in the top 10 at the NCAA Championships on 12 occasions, winning 18 individual championships and three 4x100 meter relay championships. At various points, FSU athletes set seven National Championship meet records at the time of their recording, while 72 athletes earned All-American honors for their performances.

On a regional level, the Bobcats won a total of 29 Mason-Dixon Conference indoor and outdoor titles and two Eastern Collegiate Conference titles.

In addition to their coaching responsibilities, Lewis and Hircock were professors in the University’s Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. Each received his doctorate from The Ohio State University, Hircock in 1971 and Lewis in 1974.

“It was a privilege to have been a coach at Frostburg for so many years,” they added. “We learned so much from so many people and are truly thankful for the relationships and experiences throughout our coaching careers.”

Click HERE to watch the track dedication ceremony.