Nebraska’s Gary Pepin, leader of the Husker track and field program for 42 years, announced his retirement on Aug. 4. The move brings to a close one of the most successful coaching careers in collegiate track and field history.
In his 42 years as the head coach, Pepin teams earned three NCAA championships, 73 conference team titles, 59 individual NCAA championships, 639 All-American awards, 597 individual conference championships and 68 CoSIDA Academic All-American honors.
A USTFCCCA Hall of Fame member, Pepin was named Big 12 and Big Ten coach of the year a combined 28 times, and he was the USTFCCCA Region Coach of the Year 11 times.
“I want to express my gratitude to the Athletic Department administration for the support of our program over the last 42 years,” Pepin said. “The success it has achieved would not have been possible otherwise. I’m also grateful for the hard work and many hours put in by the Husker Track and Field officials organization, and of course the hundreds of student-athletes that are part of the Husker family.
“It has been an absolute honor to coach here at Nebraska.”
Trev Alberts, vice chancellor and director of athletics, said Pepin is a legend in the history of Nebraska Athletics.
“His accomplishments in more than four decades as the head coach of our track and field program speak volumes — from team and individual national champions, dozens of conference championships, and coaching Olympic standouts,” Alberts said. “Gary Pepin is Nebraska track and field.”
Pepin’s 42-year tenure at Nebraska is the longest by a head coach in Husker athletics history. He is only the fourth coach to guide the Nebraska men’s program since World War I.
