As the Carleton men’s cross country season nears its completion, so does the tenure of head coach Bill Terriquez. The Knight mentor is retiring at the end of his 23rd season as Carleton’s head coach.
A 1970 graduate of Carleton, Terriquez served 13 years at Eden Prairie (Minn.) High School, leading it to 11 conference titles and five regional championships. After returning to his alma mater, Terriquez has coached the cross country, track and field and skiing teams. He's led the cross country squad to three MIAC titles and nine NCAA Championships appearances as a team, including an eighth-place finish in 2004.
He was the MIAC’s coach of the year in 2002 and a two-time winner of NCAA Central Region Coach of the Year honors for cross country. He's coached six All-Americans in cross country, three MIAC individual cross country champions and a total of 60 All-Americans during his tenure as both track and field and cross country coach. The Knights made five straight NCAA Championship appearances in cross country under Terriquez from 1993-97. In 1993 and 1994 Terriquez was honored as the NCAA Division III's Central Region Cross Country Coach of the Year. In 1996 he was named MIAC Track and Field Coach of the Year for guiding the Knights to third place at the conference championships.
But “Coach T” has been much more than numbers, titles and All-America certificates to those that have run and competed for him. He’s been a mentor, role model, friend–in other words, their Coach. We hope that you’ll take this space to share, either anonymously or not, your own personal thoughts, feelings and memories of Coach Terriquez.
Comments
Although I am not an alum I had the privilege to compete against and later coach with Bill. No one has more passion for his craft nor the ability to develop young people. As an athlete he competed with a great deal of intensity and truly seemed to enjoy the game. His abilities on the football field and the track were extrodinary. Bill made the transition from football coach to cross country coach flawlessly and continued the strong tradition of the program. As chair of the NCAA track and field committee he demonstrated great leadership in developing fair and appropropriate standards for selection to the championships. Bill has been a friend and mentor to his athletes over his time in the profession. Thanks Bill for the being a colleague I will never forget.
I was a football player at Carleton, but did eventually become a high school track coach. Bill was always positve, well organized, and supportive not just of his team but of all Carleton athletes overall. He always understood the difficult balance between academic and athletic excellence and how important both aspects are to Carleton athletes. He always seemed to cherish the values of the college and it rubbed off on anyone with whom he worked. Thanks coach T for all you've meant to Carleton as a student, athlete, coach, and mentor to so many of us. Enjoy your retirement.
Matt Guritz
Bill,
Thanks for your outstanding coaching career at Carleton. May you enjoy your retirement.
Coach T, I certainly hope I can speak for the fellas who were honored to run at Carleton under your leadership from 1994 to 1998. I think you're a great mentor - a link between generations of runners who love tradition, believe in sportsmanship, thrive on intense competition, and grow with a true band of brothers.
As the fellas line up for regionals and brave eight inches of snow today, I think of how much the team means to each of the fellas who ran with me during my four years. Since graduating, many of us have run marathons, coached at various levels, and encouraged friends and family to run and race. We have sought out running groups and running partners. But none of them compare to the family of brothers and friends known as the Carleton Cross Country team.
You were instrumental in building a legacy - building teams that were competitive and balanced. Teams that knew how to have fun and how to work hard in the classroom. Teams that believed in themselves. Thanks for sharing your legacy with us. Thank you for the many years of hard work.
We hope you enjoy every minute of retirement. Sincerely,
Eli M. Levitt '98
Coach T, you will be truly missed! I want to add my thank you for your service to the College and the cross country and track programs. Being a part of the Carleton team was a significant part of my college education and experience. From my first days on campus, when I was the slowest runner on the team, to my senior year, when I qualified for Nationals, you always saw and respected the fact that I was serious about becoming the best athlete that I could be. Your even keel is one of your coaching characteristics that I most try to emulate. If we didn't run well, you were there to pick us up, and when we did run well, you showed us to act like we'd been there before. Best of luck in retirement and please keep in touch with the Fellahs!
Dan Schofer '00
Coach T,
I'm glad to hear you've reached the ripe old age of retirement but saddened to know that future generations of Carleton athletes will miss out on your coaching. While the academics at Carleton get more recognition, I can honestly say that the lessons I learned on the track, in the Arb, and on the roads around Carleton are what I remember and turn back to time and again. I appreciated your innovation, your understanding of what it takes to get through Carleton, and your great sense of humor, on the track and off. Your insistence on running an even pace and finishing strong really paid off, both at Carleton and in all the marathons, 10Ks, and triathlons I've done since. Most importantly, you were always there to support us, whether we ran well or poorly, whether we were fast or slow, fresh or exhausted from an all-nighter. Thanks for the great times and best of luck in your future endeavors!
Tom Newman, ‘88
Coach T,
You were the most inspirational coach I've ever had. You not only coached track, but you also coached life. You were single-handedly the reason I returned my sophmore year after transferring. When I needed a friend, you were there. When I needed support during tough academic times, you were there. And when I was struggling with relationships, you walked me through the ups and downs. Good luck in retirement. Relax in Colorado for a bit.
Best regards,
Aaron Golden, '00