A college head track coach for 37 years, Bob Giegengack was the head coach of the 1964 U.S. Olympic team after serving as an assistant Olympic coach in 1956. His 1964 team won 20 medals, including 12 golds. Best known for producing outstanding middle distance runners, Giegengack was on the track team at Holy Cross College. After graduating in 1929, he coached track at the high school level for nine years. He took over at Fordham in 1938, becoming the youngest track coach at a major university. His 1941 team won the IC4A championship. After serving in the Navy, Giegengack returned to Fordham in 1945, before becoming track coach at Yale in 1946. He held that position until he retired in 1972. Giegengack guided Yale to four IC4A championships and a 186-121 record in dual and triangular meets. The Olympic athletes he coached included shot putter Jim Fuchs, sprinter Wendell Mottley and marathoner Frank Shorter, who is also in the Hall of Fame. Giegengack was very active on the U.S. Olympic Committee and twice served as chairman of that group's men's track and field committee.
Coach