California State University Northridge Athletics
Don Strametz Announced as USTFCCCA Hall of Fame Inductee
8/10/2015 2:07:00 PM | Men's Track & Field, Women's Track & Field
En Español
NORTHRIDGE, Calif. - Former CSUN track & Field coach Don Strametz added another honor to his legendary career today as he was announced as a 2015 inductee into the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Hall of Fame. Strametz will be formally inducted on December 15 at the USTFCCCA Convention in San Antonio, Texas.Â
Strametz, who coached the Matador women's track & field teams for 31 years and the men for 26 years, concluded his illustrious CSUN career in 2011 with a staggering 29 Coach of the Year accolades and 21 conference championships. He was also in charge of the CSUN men's and women's cross country teams from 1979-2011. Â
"It kind of puts the icing on the cake with the cake being all the great years I spent at CSUN," Strametz said. "It's always great to be recognized by your peers; I'm still in a state of shock.This is happening because of all the great assistant coaches I've worked with and the great student-athletes I've had throughout the years."
In his more than three decades, Strametz oversaw CSUN's transition from NCAA Div. II to Div. I where the Matadors continued to excel in both cross country and track & field. The CSUN women finished as national runners-up in cross country in 1985 and again in 1986. Led by the school's first All-American, Darcy Arreola, CSUN finished fourth at the 1989 NCAA Div. II National Championship meet as Arreola won the national individual title.
In 1990, CSUN's final season at the Div. II level, the Matador men finished second at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships while the women placed fifth for the second consecutive season. The fifth place finish for the Matador women capped a streak of six top-10 finishes. Strametz is credited with coaching a total of 10 NCAA Div. II individual national champions including Carol Keller (3,000 meters - 1983), Marlene Harmon (Heptathlon - 1983), Colleen Gainey (Javelin - 1987), Arreola (1,500, 3,000 meters - 1988, 3,000 meters - 1989), Walt Stewart (High Jump - 1989), Kevin Hendrix (100 meters - 1990), Erick McBride (800 meters - 1990) and Chris Perry (Long Jump - 1990).
As CSUN made the jump to the Div. I level in 1991, Arreola became the school's first NCAA champion as she won the 1,500 meter title at Hayward Field in Eugene, OR. DaShalle Andrews was the NCAA Long Jump champion outdoors in 2007 and Reindell Cole followed suit in 2008 winning the indoor title, further adding to CSUN's legacy under Strametz. In all, the Matadors produced 11 DI outdoor All-Americans and five indoor All-Americans during Strametz's tenure.
Strametz led CSUN to 13 Big West Conference championships, eight on the women's side and five on the men's side. He also won America West championships in 1995 and 1996 (men and women) as well as Big Sky titles in 1997, 1999 and 2000 on the women's side. More than 100 of his student-athletes earned All-Big West honors while nearly 150 of his student-athletes were honored by the Big Sky Conference.
Strametz's legacy also extends to his coaching staff where a large number of former assistant coaches have gone on to lead their own programs.
"Don Strametz was a great teacher and mentor to me in my time at CSUN and I will never forget his calming demeanor and caring attitude," said Jeff Perkins who coached under Strametz from 2002-05 and is now the head coach at UC Irvine. "Everything I learned about the sport and the dynamics involved in coaching I started learning at CSUN and from Stram. He still is a great voice to hear when I need guidance and clarity and each and every athlete's life he was a part of, I believe, felt the same."
University of Louisville head coach Dale Cowper, who was CSUN's throws coach under Strametz from 2003-06, echoed Perkins' sentiments.
"Don Strametz was an outstanding coach, high level mentor and a tremendous friend," Cowper said. "I was extremely fortunate to begin my coaching career as a Matador and still utilize many of the principles I learned during my time on campus."
Strametz, also a member of the Mt. SAC Relays Hall of Fame, joins another former CSUN track & field coach, Bill Webb, who was inducted into the USTFCCCA Hall of Fame in 2011.
NORTHRIDGE, Calif. - Former CSUN track & Field coach Don Strametz added another honor to his legendary career today as he was announced as a 2015 inductee into the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Hall of Fame. Strametz will be formally inducted on December 15 at the USTFCCCA Convention in San Antonio, Texas.Â
Strametz, who coached the Matador women's track & field teams for 31 years and the men for 26 years, concluded his illustrious CSUN career in 2011 with a staggering 29 Coach of the Year accolades and 21 conference championships. He was also in charge of the CSUN men's and women's cross country teams from 1979-2011. Â
"It kind of puts the icing on the cake with the cake being all the great years I spent at CSUN," Strametz said. "It's always great to be recognized by your peers; I'm still in a state of shock.This is happening because of all the great assistant coaches I've worked with and the great student-athletes I've had throughout the years."
In his more than three decades, Strametz oversaw CSUN's transition from NCAA Div. II to Div. I where the Matadors continued to excel in both cross country and track & field. The CSUN women finished as national runners-up in cross country in 1985 and again in 1986. Led by the school's first All-American, Darcy Arreola, CSUN finished fourth at the 1989 NCAA Div. II National Championship meet as Arreola won the national individual title.
In 1990, CSUN's final season at the Div. II level, the Matador men finished second at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships while the women placed fifth for the second consecutive season. The fifth place finish for the Matador women capped a streak of six top-10 finishes. Strametz is credited with coaching a total of 10 NCAA Div. II individual national champions including Carol Keller (3,000 meters - 1983), Marlene Harmon (Heptathlon - 1983), Colleen Gainey (Javelin - 1987), Arreola (1,500, 3,000 meters - 1988, 3,000 meters - 1989), Walt Stewart (High Jump - 1989), Kevin Hendrix (100 meters - 1990), Erick McBride (800 meters - 1990) and Chris Perry (Long Jump - 1990).
As CSUN made the jump to the Div. I level in 1991, Arreola became the school's first NCAA champion as she won the 1,500 meter title at Hayward Field in Eugene, OR. DaShalle Andrews was the NCAA Long Jump champion outdoors in 2007 and Reindell Cole followed suit in 2008 winning the indoor title, further adding to CSUN's legacy under Strametz. In all, the Matadors produced 11 DI outdoor All-Americans and five indoor All-Americans during Strametz's tenure.
Strametz led CSUN to 13 Big West Conference championships, eight on the women's side and five on the men's side. He also won America West championships in 1995 and 1996 (men and women) as well as Big Sky titles in 1997, 1999 and 2000 on the women's side. More than 100 of his student-athletes earned All-Big West honors while nearly 150 of his student-athletes were honored by the Big Sky Conference.
Strametz's legacy also extends to his coaching staff where a large number of former assistant coaches have gone on to lead their own programs.
"Don Strametz was a great teacher and mentor to me in my time at CSUN and I will never forget his calming demeanor and caring attitude," said Jeff Perkins who coached under Strametz from 2002-05 and is now the head coach at UC Irvine. "Everything I learned about the sport and the dynamics involved in coaching I started learning at CSUN and from Stram. He still is a great voice to hear when I need guidance and clarity and each and every athlete's life he was a part of, I believe, felt the same."
University of Louisville head coach Dale Cowper, who was CSUN's throws coach under Strametz from 2003-06, echoed Perkins' sentiments.
"Don Strametz was an outstanding coach, high level mentor and a tremendous friend," Cowper said. "I was extremely fortunate to begin my coaching career as a Matador and still utilize many of the principles I learned during my time on campus."
Strametz, also a member of the Mt. SAC Relays Hall of Fame, joins another former CSUN track & field coach, Bill Webb, who was inducted into the USTFCCCA Hall of Fame in 2011.
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