ATLANTA — After decades of churning out national champions, conference titlists and Olympians, one legendary track and field coach will be hanging up his Georgia Tech yellow jacket.
On Wednesday, head coach of the men's track and field team, Grover Hinsdale, announced he will be retiring at the end of the 2024-25 academic year -- marking an incredible 46-year run with the program and 32 years as head coach.
He's currently entering that last year and called his time coaching at Tech one of the greatest honors of his life.
"A very special thanks to the hundreds of young men that cast their lots with this Brotherhood and gave me the honor of being their coach," Hinsdale said. "You are what kept me here and loving every day for all these years. You will be my main men forever and always."
Hinsdale has had a legendary career coaching men in a sport that embodies not only one's speed but mental fortitude and resilience. During his tenure, the Yellow Jackets have posted seven top-10 indoor and outdoor NCAA Championship finishes. According to a release, he was named Atlanta Coast Conference Indoor Coach of the Year in 2002 and 2008. He has also coached three Olympic gold medalists, 13 NCAA champions and 87 all-Americans. In addition, 25 members of the men's team have gone on to be inducted into the Georgia Tech Sports Hall of Fame.
Among those who've struck gold is Derrick Adkins who won at the Olympics in 1996 as well as being a two-time national champion and six-time all-American during his Tech career. Another was Derek Mills, who won gold in the 4x400 relay team at the Olympics in Atlanta. He was also a four-time national champion and an 11-time-all-American for the Jackets. The third was Angelo Taylor, who won in the 400 intermediate hurdles at the 2000 Sydney Games. Taylor won two NCAA titles and was a four-time-all-American.
Some other top athletes Hinsdale has mentored include Octavius Terry, a three-time national champion and nine-time all-American and Jonas Motiejunas, a two-time national champion and five-time all-American and national champions Michael Johnson and Tomas Motiejunas.
According to a release, Hinsdale's journey at Tech started in 1979 as an assistant track coach. He held this position for 13 years. He was then promoted to assistant head coach in 1992 and was named head coach the next year.
Hinsdale is from Michigan and lettered four years in track and field at Ferris State. As a former decathlete, Hinsdale's first 14 years with Tech were spent in the field events.
Georgia Tech Director of Athletics J Batt said that not only has Hinsdale coached champions on the track, but countless men who've represented the institution with distinction in all walks of life.
"From his beginnings as an assistant coach to his development of Olympic medalists, national champions and conference titlists as the program's head coach for 32 years, Grover Hinsdale has left an indelible mark on Georgia Tech," Batt said.
Although Hinsdale is finishing his leg of the relay as head coach and will be passing the baton, his mark will forever be left in Tech athletic history.
Once a Yellow Jacket, always a Yellow Jacket. Congrats, Coach Hinsdale, on this milestone achievement in the race of life!
