Mel Rosen
Encyclopedia
Melvin "Mel" Rosen is an American former track
coach.
He was head coach of the Auburn University Tigers track team for 28 years, from 1963–91, during which time the team won four consecutive Southeastern Conference
(SEC) Indoor Track & Field Championships from 1977–80, and an outdoor track & field championship in 1979.
, where he was a middle distance runner, in 1950.
Rosen joined Auburn in 1955, as an assistant professor in the university's physical education department, and as an assistant track coach. He was in charge of the school's distance and relay teams until 1964, when he became head coach.
In 1978, Rosen was named the SEC and NCAA Coach of the Year, in both indoor and outdoor competition. That year his team placed second at the SEC outdoor, fifth at the NCAA outdoor, first at the SEC indoor, and second at the NCAA indoor meets. His teams finished in the top ten at both the NCAA indoor and outdoor championships for four consecutive years (1976–79). He was again named NCAA Indoor Coach of the Year in 1980, and SEC Indoor Coach of the Year in 1985.
During his coaching career he coached 7 Olympians and 143 All Americans.
After the 1991 season, he left as Auburn’s track coach to become head coach of the 1992 U.S. Men’s Olympic Track Team
. He had been assistant coach for the 1984 Olympic Team
, and head coach of the 1987 Outdoor World Championships
team.
Rosen was USA Track & Field men’s track & field committee chairman. He was President of the track coaches association from 1978–79.
To honor him and another former track coach, Auburn renamed its new track and field complex Hutsell-Rosen Track
in 2006.
in 1993, and was inducted into the USA Track & Field Hall of Fame in 1995. He was inducted as a member of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association
Hall of Fame in 2001. In 2004, he was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
.
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
coach.
He was head coach of the Auburn University Tigers track team for 28 years, from 1963–91, during which time the team won four consecutive Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
(SEC) Indoor Track & Field Championships from 1977–80, and an outdoor track & field championship in 1979.
Early life
Rosen is Jewish, was born in The Bronx, New York, and grew up in Brooklyn, New York. He graduated from the University of IowaUniversity of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
, where he was a middle distance runner, in 1950.
Coaching career
Rosen then coached at University of Iowa as an assistant for three years, while earning a master’s degree and beginning work on a doctorate which he then continued to study for at Auburn. In addition, he served two years in the Army at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he was track coach for the post.Rosen joined Auburn in 1955, as an assistant professor in the university's physical education department, and as an assistant track coach. He was in charge of the school's distance and relay teams until 1964, when he became head coach.
In 1978, Rosen was named the SEC and NCAA Coach of the Year, in both indoor and outdoor competition. That year his team placed second at the SEC outdoor, fifth at the NCAA outdoor, first at the SEC indoor, and second at the NCAA indoor meets. His teams finished in the top ten at both the NCAA indoor and outdoor championships for four consecutive years (1976–79). He was again named NCAA Indoor Coach of the Year in 1980, and SEC Indoor Coach of the Year in 1985.
During his coaching career he coached 7 Olympians and 143 All Americans.
After the 1991 season, he left as Auburn’s track coach to become head coach of the 1992 U.S. Men’s Olympic Track Team
United States at the 1992 Summer Olympics
- Gold:* Michael Marsh — Athletics, Men's 200 metres* Quincy Watts — Athletics, Men's 400 metres* Kevin Young — Athletics, Men's 400 m Hurdles...
. He had been assistant coach for the 1984 Olympic Team
United States at the 1984 Summer Olympics
The United States was the host nation of the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. It was the nineteenth time that Team USA participated, having boycotted the 1980 Summer Olympics...
, and head coach of the 1987 Outdoor World Championships
1987 World Championships in Athletics
The 2nd World Championships in Athletics under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations were held in the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy between August 28 and September 6, 1987.-Track:1983 | 1987 | 1991 | 1993 | 1995...
team.
Rosen was USA Track & Field men’s track & field committee chairman. He was President of the track coaches association from 1978–79.
To honor him and another former track coach, Auburn renamed its new track and field complex Hutsell-Rosen Track
Hutsell-Rosen Track
Hutsell-Rosen Track is an outdoor track and field facility located in Auburn, Alabama on the campus of Auburn University. It is the official outdoor track and field facility for the Auburn Tigers track and field teams...
in 2006.
Halls of Fame
Rosen was inducted as a member of the Alabama Sports Hall of FameAlabama Sports Hall of Fame
The Alabama Sports Hall of Fame is a state museum located in Birmingham, Alabama, dedicated to communicating the state’s athletic history...
in 1993, and was inducted into the USA Track & Field Hall of Fame in 1995. He was inducted as a member of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association
U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association
The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association is a New Orleans, Louisiana-based professional association representing men's and women's cross country and track & field coaches in the United States. The organization has about 8,000 members...
Hall of Fame in 2001. In 2004, he was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
The International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame was opened July 7, 1981, in Netanya, Israel. It honors Jewish athletes and their accomplishments from anywhere around the world....
.
External links
- Practical Coaching Techniques, by Mel Rosen, Championship Books & Video Productions, 1981, ISBN 0932741959,