PROVO, Utah – BYU head track and field coach Ed Eyestone today announced that legendary women’s cross country head coach and assistant track coach Patrick Shane is retiring after 36 years at BYU.
“Coach Shane has served BYU tirelessly for nearly four decades,” Eyestone said. “He leaves a legacy of All-Americans, national champions and Olympians. His cross country teams of the late 1990s and early 2000s captured an amazing four NCAA titles and three runner-up finishes in a span of seven years. Patrick is a hall of fame coach that I am fortunate to count as a friend and mentor. His legacy will continue to influence the BYU track and cross country programs for years to come.”
Shane was hired as the BYU women’s cross country head coach in 1980 and built the program into a national power. Since the NCAA began sponsoring women’s athletics in 1981, Shane led the Cougars to 31 National Championship appearances in 35 seasons. His teams won four NCAA titles (1997, 1999, 2001, 2002) and finished runner up three times. He also led the women’s cross country team to 24 conference championships and 16 regional titles. During his career, he coached 30 All-American cross country runners who earned 51 citations.
For his efforts Shane was named NCAA Cross Country Coach of the Year three times and received nine District VII Coach of the Year awards. He also earned 17 conference coach of the year honors.
“I feel now is the right time to retire,” Shane said. “I’m thankful for the opportunity BYU has given me to coach and mentor hundreds of the world’s most amazing women student-athletes. I want to express my appreciation to all the coaches, staff and athletes I’ve had the pleasure to work with through the years. I also want to express my love and gratitude to my wife Karey and our children who have been understanding of my time away from home while I’ve pursued my dream job at BYU. I’m looking forward to spending more time with them and our grandchildren and seeing what the Lord has in mind for us as we move into this new chapter in our lives.”
Shane’s coaching prowess also translated to the BYU women’s track program where he served as coach of the middle distance and distance runners. During his tenure, he coached 66 All-Americans who earned more than 150 citations. From 2011-13 he served as the head women’s track and field coach and led the Cougars to MWC Indoor and Outdoor titles in 2011. For his efforts he was named the MWC Indoor and Outdoor Coach of the Year as well as Mountain Region Coach of the Year in 2011.
“Patrick has enjoyed incredible success in his long and industrious tenure at BYU,” BYU director of athletics Tom Holmoe said. “He has touched the lives of hundreds of student-athletes and will long be remembered as one of the great coaches in BYU history."
In addition to his career at BYU, Shane has spent significant time coaching at the national and international level. He was selected as the head coach of the USA Junior National Women's Team for the 1995 World Cross Country Championships in Durham, England, as well as the USA National Women's Team for the 1999 World Cross Country Championships in Portugal. In 2008, he was also selected as the head coach of the USA National Women's Track and Field Team for the IAAF World Junior Champions in Poland. Through the years, Shane coached six Olympians.
Shane was a four-year letter winner on the BYU track and cross country teams from 1966-70. He graduated from BYU in 1970 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education. He later earned a master’s degree in physical education in 1972.