Jud Logan was a giant of a man, not only physically but in character as well. He was not only a 4-time Olympian but a Coach-of-the-Year at every level including the national level. He was without peer as a throws coach but when he became a head coach his teams and all events improved dramatically. He approached everything he did with the same zest as he approached his own training as a hammer thrower, and that includes his courageous battle against leukemia. He was kind, thoughtful, and treated everyone with dignity. Bill Schnier, University of Cincinnati
The following tribute to Jud Logan appeared on today's Ashland University Athletics website.
Ashland University and the world of track and field has suffered a significant loss with the passing of Eagle track and field head coach and four-time United States Olympian Jud Logan at age 62.
"Jud Logan personified our mission and vision at Ashland University," said Ashland University President Dr. Carlos Campo. "We promise a transformative experience for students, and Jud delivered that every day in his interactions with student-athletes. His legacy at AU is extraordinary. Countless lives were touched for the better due to his unconquerable spirit and love for others.
"His passing is just shattering news for our campus and beyond, and our prayers are with the entire Logan family."
Said Ashland Director of Athletics Al King, "Words can't adequately capture what Jud Logan meant to this athletic department, university, city and the track and field community. He was a tower of strength physically and spiritually. He had a zest for living and greeted every day and every challenge with gusto. His teams reflected that attitude.
"Our lives have been enriched by the time we had with him."
Logan was in his 17th season as Ashland's head men's and women's track and field coach, and his 28th year with the Eagle program as a whole, starting as an assistant coach. His men won three consecutive NCAA Division II national championships – 2019 indoors and outdoors, and 2021 indoors.
The two 2019 national titles came as Logan was battling B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.
As a head coach, Logan's Eagle teams earned 42 top-10 national placements, and his pupils won 59 individual national championships.
Jud in Action - Sweden youtube
For all of the success his teams saw, Logan earned the following plaudits:
- Three-time U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division II men's national indoor Coach of the Year.
- 2019 USTFCCCA men's national outdoor Coach of the Year.
- 2008 USTFCCCA women's national indoor Coach of the Year.
- Five-time USTFCCCA Division II men's Great Lakes Region/Midwest Region indoor Coach of the Year.
- Four-time USTFCCCA Division II men's Great Lakes Region/Midwest Region outdoor Coach of the Year.
- Six-time Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) men's outdoor Coach of the Year.
- Three-time GLIAC men's indoor Coach of the Year.
"I came to Ashland because of Jud Logan," said Ernie Clark, former associate head coach and current assistant coach at NCAA Division I San Jose State. "His vibe. His vision. He wanted to do big things, with the right people, with positivity and enthusiasm. He gave me a chance to be part of that vision and I was blessed to build with him. He became much more than a head coach and colleague. He became one of the best friends I have ever had as an adult. The best mentor I have ever had. And certainly one of the best listeners I have ever met.
"Jud was one of the best throwers in the world. He was one of the best coaches in the world. He leaves the world as one of the best human beings to ever be on the planet. As all of us know, his words, positive vibes, memories, and smiles carry on in all of us. We are all blessed to know him and have him with us in spirit."
Said Malcolm Majesky, Ashland's Head Strength & Conditioning Coach and former Eagle track and field student-athlete, "There are no words I can put together right now to do this man's life justice. He has had such an enormous impact on so many people's lives, and that impact will be felt for generations to come. This won't just be felt by a town or university, this will be felt worldwide.
"He stopped being just my coach a long time ago, but he was family. We love you, Jud."
Logan also was the commencement speaker at the 2021 Ashland University spring graduation ceremony at Jack Miller Stadium/Martinelli Field.
Prior to and during his time with Ashland, Logan was a world-class hammer thrower, having competed on four United States Olympic teams – 1984, 1988, 1992 and 2000. He also competed in the Pan-American Games, the Goodwill Games and World Championships, and at one time, had the American record of 268-feet-8 in the hammer throw. Logan was the 1987 Pan Am Games men's hammer throw champion in Indianapolis, Ind.
Logan was a 2002 inductee in the Ohio Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches Hall of Fame and a 2015 inductee into the National Throws Coaches Association (NTCA) Thrower's Hall of Fame.
Logan was a 1982 Kent State graduate, and a graduate of North Canton Hoover High School.
The Logan family plans to have a private service at this time. They will make an announcement about a celebration for Jud's remarkable life at a later date.
I've included two articles on Jud Logan, the first on his dealing with leukemia and the second a case study on the psychology of throwing the hammer.
Article on Jud's Life with Leukemia
1 comment:
I remember being a track & field official at Oregon watching Jud dominate the hammer throw field. In those days, the hammer throw was away from Hayward Field and just to the SE of MacArthur Court. Fond memories of the past and seeing a great athlete now gone. Jim Traut
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