Academy track coach inducted into hall of fame

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GLENDALE, Ariz., (AFNS) --  Air Force track and field head coach Ralph Lindeman was inducted into the Arizona Track and Cross Country Coaches Hall of Fame Jan. 9 at a banquet in Glendale, Ariz. Mr. Lindeman, who is entering his 20th season at the helm of the Falcons' track and field program, is one of four members of the Class of 2009.

Mr. Lindeman spent the first 11 years of his career coaching in Arizona at the high school and collegiate levels. 

He began coaching in 1973 at Carl Hayden High School in Phoenix, before moving on to Glendale High School in 1974. During his five-year stint as the head cross country coach, Mr. Lindeman coached four Arizona state champions and a team that finished second at the state championships. In addition, he served as Glendale's head track coach beginning in 1976. Mr. Lindeman then coached at Westwood High School in Mesa, Ariz., from 1979 to 1980. 

Mr. Lindeman moved to the collegiate level in 1980, serving as an assistant coach on the men's team at his alma mater, Arizona State.  During his three-year tenure with the Sun Devils, he led seven individuals to PAC-10 championships and helped ASU to their only PAC-10 team title in 1981. 

From 1982-84, Lindeman served as an assistant coach for the men's and women's teams at the University of Arizona. While there, he coached six PAC-10 champions and one NCAA champion. 

Joining Mr. Lindeman as 2009 inductees into the Arizona Track and Cross Country Coaches Hall of Fame are Bruce Frankie, Greg Hull and Ron Mann. Mr. Frankie is the longtime coach of Washington High School in Phoenix, while Mr. Hull, a coach of two Olympic champions, is the head coach of Sky Athletics, the top professional pole vault club in the county. Mr. Mann is currently the head coach at the University of Louisville, but was the head coach at Northern Arizona for 24 years. 

"For me, this is a greater honor than being selected to the 2004 Olympic coaching staff, because this selection is by my peers and the guys I started out with in the profession," Mr. Lindeman said. "It's particularly gratifying being inducted along with Greg and Ron, two of my closest friends in the profession." 

The purpose of the Arizona Track and Cross Country Coaches Hall of Fame is to honor men and women, who have distinguished themselves both as coaches and leaders, in that they furthered the growth and quality of track and field and cross country in Arizona. 

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