| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1928-03-24)March 24, 1928 The Bronx, New York, U.S. |
| Died | March 25, 2018(2018-03-25) (aged 90) Auburn, Alabama, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of Iowa |
| Playing career | |
| 1947–1950 | Iowa Hawkeyes |
| Position(s) | Middle-distance runner |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1963–1991 | Auburn Tigers (HC since 1965) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Awards | |
| |
Melvin "Mel" Rosen (March 24, 1928 – March 25, 2018) was an Americantrack coach.[1][2]
He was head coach of theAuburn University Tigers track team for 28 years, from 1963 to 1991, during which time the team won four consecutiveSoutheastern Conference (SEC) Indoor Track & Field Championships, from 1977 to 1980, and an outdoor track and field championship in 1979.[2][3]
Rosen was Jewish, was born inThe Bronx, New York, and grew up inBrooklyn, New York.[2][4][5][6] He graduated from theUniversity of Iowa, where he was amiddle-distance runner, in 1950.[1][2][4][6]
Rosen then coached at University of Iowa as an assistant for three years, while earning a master's degree and beginning work on a doctorate which he then continued to study for at Auburn.[1][2][6] In addition, he served two years in the Army atFort Benning, Georgia, where he was track coach for the post.[1][5]
Rosen joined Auburn in 1955, as an assistant professor in the university's physical education department, and as an assistant track coach.[1][2][4] He was in charge of the school's distance and relay teams until 1964, when he became head coach.[1][4]
In 1978, Rosen was named the SEC andNCAA Coach of the Year, in both indoor and outdoor competition.[1][2][4] That year his team placed second at the SEC outdoor, fifth at the NCAA outdoor, first at the SEC indoor, and second at the NCAA indoor meets.[1][4] His teams finished in the top ten at both the NCAA indoor and outdoor championships for four consecutive years (1976–79).[2][4] He was again named NCAA Indoor Coach of the Year in 1980, and SEC Indoor Coach of the Year in 1985.[1][2][4]
During his coaching career he coached 7 Olympians and 143All-Americans.[1][2][4]
After the 1991 season, he left as Auburn's track coach to become head coach of the1992 U.S. Men's Olympic Track Team.[1][2][4][7] He had been assistant coach for the1984 Olympic Team, and head coach of the1987 Outdoor World Championships team.[1][2]
Rosen wasUSA Track & Field men's track & field committee chairman.[1][2] He was president of the track coaches association from 1978 to 1979.[1]
To honor him and another former track coach, Auburn renamed its new track and field complexHutsell-Rosen Track in 2006.[5]
Rosen was inducted as a member of theAlabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1993, and was inducted into theUSA Track & Field Hall of Fame in 1995.[1][2][3][4][5] He was inducted as a member of theU.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2001.[1][5] In 2004, he was inducted into theInternational Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.[6]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
