Princeton University Athletics
Farrell to Induct Fitzpatrick Into Hall Of Fame
December 14, 2011 | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field
SAN ANTONIO, Texas (12/14/11) - Princeton head women's cross country and track & field coach Peter Farrell will induct Keene Fitzpatrick into the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Hall of Fame today, Dec. 14, at the USTFCCCA Hall of Fame induction ceremony in San Antonio, Texas.
Fitzpatrick h13, h16 former coach and athletic trainer at Princeton is considered "one of the pioneers of intercollegiate sport" and for over 40 years in the first half of the 20th century, Fitzpatrick was arguably the leading figure in the world of intercollegiate athletic training, physical education, and its applications in track & field, football, rowing, and several other sports.
Fitzpatrick held stints at Yale and Michigan, but served the longest tenure as head coach at Princeton for 22 years (1911-1932). In addition to his track duties at Princeton, he was the trainer and kicking coach of the Princeton football team and at times trained other teams.
Credited with inventing modern pole-vaulting technique, he coached numerous Olympic gold medalists, and took four of his Princeton track teams to second place in the intercollegiates (prior to the NCAAs) in 1920, 22, 23 and 25. Fifteen Tigers won individual intercollegiate championships, including two double champions.
Fitzpatrick was ahead of his time, speaking openly about student-athlete welfare. In 1927, he spoke publicly in favor of allowing college football teams to conduct early practice before the school year began. He argued that the lack of sufficient time for training and conditioning was the greatest cause of football injuries. He argued that, although football is the most strenuous of all sports, it gets the least amount of actual preparation.
He was one of the charter members of the IC4A when it was organized in 1918, was the first president of the College Track Coaches Association and at the time of his retirement was known as the Dean of College Track Coaches.
Born in Natick, Mass., in 1864, Fitzpatrick died in Princeton, N.J., at age 79 in 1944.