By Mike McGraw
Executive Director
The year was 1972. Chuck Koeppen was teaching and coaching at Wapahani High School in rural Delaware County. He was presented with an opportunity to interview for the position of head boys track & field coach at Carmel High School.
His first question upon being told of the opportunity was, “Carmel … now, can you tell me exactly where that is?”
Koeppen eventually made his way to the interview and subsequently accepted not only that position but one as cross country coach for both boys and the girls as well.
Fast forward to today, some 36 years later. It seems that coach Koeppen’s “directional impairment” has been a life-long problem. Once he found his way to Carmel, he never found his way back out of town. Generations of Carmel youth – and the entire Indiana track & field community – are thankful he didn’t.
The legendary Greyhound mentor announced just before the boys track sectionals that he will retire effective at the end of the cross country season next fall. It will mark the end of a spectacular career that has been dotted with numerous state championships in cross country as well as the 2000 state title in boys track.
It is also a career that has established him as the premier tutor of distance runners in the state.
HoosierAuthority.com had a chance to sit down with Koeppen during regional week and reminisce a bit about his remarkable tenure. One of the questions we asked him was why he had stayed at Carmel for so long – click here for his answer.
Koeppen’s journey to Carmel was equal parts passion and accident, but it was not necessarily one of intent. He was born and raised in Valparaiso in the heyday of Northwest Indiana distance running. Valpo was a hotbed for running, and Koeppen had a successful career for the Crusaders.
Upon graduation, he headed for Ball State.
“I thought I could probably run one more year before I flunked out,” Koeppen said. “But once I got there, I started to find myself. Then as the end of college started to draw near, I started thinking about modeling my life after that of my high school coach.”
That desire initially took him to tiny Daleville High School for a year, then on to his three-year stay at Wapahani. Obviously, his next move lasted a little longer.
In a day and age where fewer and fewer coaches stay in the business for their entire working life, Koeppen is a throwback. Not only did he never step away, he actually retired from teaching three years ago yet continued to coach. We asked him why – click here for his answer.
Koeppen’s name is recognizable to anyone who has seriously competed in distance running in Indiana in the past 30 years. Nonetheless, this is Indiana – not California or Florida. Track & field is a relatively lightly followed sport in this state. If that premise is true, then cross country is often an exercise in being totally anonymous outside of the running community.
We asked Koeppen the tough question as to whether that lack of recognition has bothered him through the years. The thoughtful nature of his answer is a reflection of the man – click here for his answer.
Stop for a moment to consider what Koeppen has seen during his coaching years. He has witnessed the exploits of Rudy Chapa, Maicel Malone, and countless others. He took a moment to recall some of the people he will remember fondly in the years to come – click here for his answer.
Let’s be frank. When Koeppen exits, another will take his place. Carmel’s track record (pun intended) says that coach will likely be just as qualified and, perhaps, just as successful. On the day of this interview, however, I witnessed what cannot be replaced.
I arrived at the Carmel track at 10 o’clock on Memorial Day morning, and Koppen was on the track with a small group of athletes. He quickly explained that they were having a time trial to see who would compose the Greyhounds’ 4×800 meter relay team in the state finals.
As he explained the competitive situation to me, his eyes twinkled and the passion for his work came through as though he was in his 20s and heading to that event for the very first time. After one of the runners turned in a season-best time, the joy in Koeppen’s voice and the bond between coach and athlete was one of those rare moments that remind me of why I do what I do.
That, my friends, will never be replaced.
Share
your thoughts on our Boys Track & Field message board, peeps!
WE WANT FEEDBACK!!! Share your
opinions on our Boys Cross Country message board!
LET’S
HEAR IT! Share your thoughts on our Girls Cross Country message board.
Processing your request, Please wait....
