News

Ken Coffman to Retire Track and Field Post at Oregon Tech

06.10.2011

Ken Coffman and 2011 NAIA decathlon national champion Bryant Sentman. (photo by Kelly Caleb)

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - After a 16-year reign as the Head Track and Field Coach at Oregon Institute of Technology, Ken Coffman announced his intention to retire from that position with his final day in the role scheduled for June 30^th.

Coffman was named Cascade Collegiate Conference Track and field Coach of the Year for both men and women in 2006, while also named the CCC Women’s Track and Field Coach of the Year four times over the last seven seasons. His women's team's captured four-straight conference titles beginning in 2003, including an 11th place NAIA national finish in 2008.

Coffman has coached 28 NAIA All-Americans, including three NAIA National Champions in his tenure at Oregon Tech. Coffman and his staff has coached over 1200 athletes in his time at Oregon Tech, earning four conference titles, qualifying over 185 athletes to the National Meet, including 82 NAIA Scholar-Athletes. Since 1998 Coffman’s teams have produced at least one NAIA All-American every year.

Prior to his collegiate career at OIT, Coffman, a 1963 graduate of Southern Oregon University, returned to his Klamath Falls roots to teach and coach starting at Roosevelt Elementary before moving to Mazama High School for five years. Coffman then transferred to his alma mater, Klamath Union High School, in 1970. Coffman coached high school track and field for 31 seasons before retiring at that level and moving on to Oregon Tech to reinstate the cross country program beginning in 1995 and track and field program in 1996. Coffman’s entire coaching career encompassed 54 years.

“There was no other way I would rather have spent my life than coaching,” said Coffman. “I want to thank OIT and others for giving me the opportunity to work with these young people.”

Coffman retired from the men’s and women’s head cross country position in 2009.