University of Minnesota Athletics
LEGENDARY MINNESOTA COACH NAMED TO USTCA HALL OF FAME
10/11/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
A letterwinner in both cross country and track & field during his collegiate running career for the Golden Gophers, Griak earned his bachelor's degree in education from the U of M in 1949, adding his master's degree in 1950.
Griak, who was inducted into the prestigious Drake Relays Coaches' Hall of Fame in April of 1993, took over the reigns of the Minnesota program in 1963.
Griak, who resides in Plymouth, Minn., led the Golden Gophers to Big Ten cross country titles in 1964 and 1969. His 1968 cross country squad finished second at the Big Ten meet and placed fourth at the NCAA Championships. Griak added a Big Ten track and field title to his resume in 1968.
Overall, he coached a total of 47 cross country and track and field All-Americans during his tenure, including three NCAA champions. His athletes collected 60 Big Ten Conference individual titles as well.
When Griak stepped off the track for the last time in 1996, Minnesota honored its legendary coach by naming the nation's largest annual cross country meet, formerly the Minnesota Invitational, after Griak. Griak then became the administrative assistant for cross country and track & field programs.
