Lundin named head men's track and field, cross country coach

Mike Ludwig
May 8, 2008

NORTHFIELD, Minn. - Phil Lundin, head men's track and field coach at the University of Minnesota, has been named head men's cross country and track and field coach at St. Olaf, athletic director Matt McDonald announced Thursday afternoon.

Lundin (luhn - deen), a four-time Big Ten Coach of the Year, will replace Bill Thornton who is retiring after nearly four decades of service at St. Olaf.

Lundin will finish the spring season at Minnesota before taking the reins at St. Olaf this summer.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge - one that is more than coaching" said Lundin, a graduate of Augsburg College. "I'm excited to get back to my roots."

Lundin spent 12 years at Burnsville High School as a health and physical education teacher and coach before moving to Minnesota as an assistant in 1986. In 1995, he was named the Golden Gophers' head coach.

Lundin has led Minnesota to a combined five top ten finishes at the NCAA's - three indoor and two outdoor - and four Big Ten titles. Over the past ten seasons, the Lundin-led Golden Gophers have been first or second at the Big Ten's Outdoor Championships eight times.

In 2003, he was named the United States Track Coaches Association Coach of the Year, the Midwest Region Coach of the Year and the Big Ten Coach of the Year after leading his team to the league's outdoor crown, a seventh place finish at the NCAA Indoor's and ninth place at the NCAA Outdoor's. In that season, the Gophers also earned their first Midwest Regional Outdoor title in school history.

His student-athletes have excelled in the classroom as well. Under Lundin, Minnesota has touted eight Academic All-America selections and 81 Academic All-Big Ten honors.

Lundin graduated from Augsburg, where he captained the football and track and field teams, with a degree in physical education in 1974. He was inducted to the Auggies' Hall of Fame in 1998.

He picked up his master's in physical education in 1976 and his Ph.D. in biomechanics 1983, each from the University of Minnesota.

Lundin and his wife of 33 years, Susan Breun, reside in Apple Valley and have two children: Daniel, 27, and Teresa, 20.

Contact media relations specialist Mike Ludwig at (507) 786-3834 or ludwigm@stolaf.edu.