Men's head coach retires

"Forty-three years -- it's a long time." \nAfter 21 years of service to IU's track and field teams and 22 more spent coaching high school track and cross country in Illinois and Indiana, men's head coach Marshall Goss has decided to retire from coaching. \n"It is with some reluctance that I am leaving the program just shy of our goal of men and women's Big Ten championships in the same year," Goss said in a press release. "However, the recent wins by the women's team and this year's third place for the men clearly indicate that the program is moving in the right direction and that our goal cannot be far away."\nIt was only a matter of fate that IU did not come away with the title at the 2003 Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Championships, as several key performers suffered untimely injuries. Despite the injuries, Goss said that it is simply time for something new.\n"It's time to move on, to do something different," Goss said. \nGoss will stay on as the Campus Landscape Coordinator, where he will continue to organize the various horticultural installments that bring out the beauty that attracts so many to IU's campus. \nAthletes said they will remember Goss for his kind words, honorable stature and occasional unconventional pep talks. A sudden tap on the shoulder during practice could quickly turn into a good-natured headlock and a few inspirational words. \n"Coach Goss always seemed to know which guys to pick out for a quick pick-me-up and who would have the best team spirit slogan," senior Nathan Purcell said. "This year's was 'Don't Touch It (Because It's Hot)' since our team was on a hot streak -- I'll never forget that one." \nWhile Athletic Director Terry Clapacs looks for Goss' successor, he said he realizes the spikes will be hard to fill. \n"Marshall has been a strong nationally recognized coach in track and field. We will miss him. He had a wonderful coaching career here at Indiana," Clapacs said. "There is no one better at organizing a track meet than Marshall. Of his many strengths it is work ethic that stands out the most."\nWhile Goss will be difficult to replace, he will be available for advice in his new position as assistant athletic director. He plans to continue working with the track and field programs, particularly on improvements to the facilities. \nGoss has a long history at IU, as he came to the campus in 1982 initially as an assistant track coach specializing in the pole vault and the hurdles. He took the helm as the head of the program after the retirement of legendary Hoosier coach Sam Bell five years ago, and in his final season he orchestrated IU's third place Big Ten finish, the highest since 1992's victory. \nIn Goss' specific event areas, several Hoosiers stand out as national champions, such as Dave Volz, Glenn Terry, Mark Buse and DeeDee Nathan, IU's first women's track Olympian. Goss' most recent successes include the highly successful pole vault combination of Dino Efthimiou and Ian Curry at the 2003 Big Ten Outdoor Championships and the career of senior hurdler Danielle Carruthers. \nPrior to his stint at IU, Goss had an illustrious high school coaching career at Paris High School in Illinois and also at Bloomington High School South. His honors include 1982's National High School Cross Country Coach of the Year, and he was inducted into the Indiana High School Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1994.\nAn accomplished athlete himself, Goss also had a career outside of coaching, as author of "Goss' Cross Country Trivia," a collection of historical questions about past and present Indiana cross country. He also has been editor of Hoosier Trackman, a publication devoted to Indiana high school track and field and cross country and has had several articles published in Track & Field Quarterly Review. \nIn addition to his Indiana exploits, Goss was the head track and field official at 1984's Olympics in Los Angeles, an assistant coach with the U.S. team at the first World Junior Championships in Greece in 1986 and named honorary referee at the 92nd running of the prestigious Drake Relays in 2001, at which IU was a fixture for the majority of his years with the program. \nAside from his new responsibilities as assistant athletic director and campus landscape coordinator, Goss said he simply intends to keep in touch with his former team.\n"I'm not quite sure what I'll be doing," Goss said. "But I'll certainly be staying in touch with the program"