Ralph Lindeman Honored with George Dales Award
12/12/2023 8:23:00 PM | Track and Field
DENVER -- Legendary Air Force track and field head coach Ralph Lindeman was posthumously honored with the George Dales Award this evening (Dec. 12) at the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association's annual convention in Denver.
The George Dales Award is named in honor of longtime Western Michigan coach George Dales, for his relentless pursuit in the growth and development of track & field and cross country over more than a half century. This award is presented annually by the USTFCCCA at its convention to a distinguished individual who, through their efforts, has enhanced the profession of coaching track & field and cross country.
Lindeman was in the middle of his 33rd season as the Falcons' head coach – and his 48th year of coaching overall – when he passed away on March 6, 2022.
Under his watch, the Air Force men's track and field team became the most decorated program in Academy history, with nine Mountain West titles – four more trophies than all other Air Force programs combined. Lindeman was an 18-time conference Coach of the Year and a six-time USTFCCCA Mountain Region Coach of the Year. His Air Force athletes collected 42 Western Athletic Conference titles and 178 Mountain West championships, while earning All-America honors 98 times. He coached three Falcons to eight NCAA titles and oversaw the success of 16 Academic All-Americans and two Rhodes Scholars.
Lindeman coached at every level during his career – from stints at two Arizona high schools (1974-1980) to collegiate stops at Arizona State (assistant coach, 1980-82), Arizona (associate head coach, 1982-84) and Long Beach State (head coach, 1984-89), before finding his home at Air Force (head coach, 1989-2022). He also served on Team USA coaching staffs at two Olympic Festivals (1987, 1993), the 1992 World Junior Championships, the 1999 Pan American Games, the 2001 World University Games, the 2018 World Indoor Championships, the 2007 World Outdoor Championships and the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.
A member of the Drake Relays' Coaches Hall of Fame (Class of 2023) and the Arizona Track Coaches' Hall of Fame (Class of 2009), Lindeman was involved with numerous coaching committees during his illustrious tenure, serving as president of the U.S. Track Coaches Association (2001-03), first chairman of the USTFCCCA Ethics Committee, Chair of the USATF Coaches Advisory Committee, and Chair of the 2000 NCAA Outdoor Championships.
The George Dales Award is named in honor of longtime Western Michigan coach George Dales, for his relentless pursuit in the growth and development of track & field and cross country over more than a half century. This award is presented annually by the USTFCCCA at its convention to a distinguished individual who, through their efforts, has enhanced the profession of coaching track & field and cross country.
Lindeman was in the middle of his 33rd season as the Falcons' head coach – and his 48th year of coaching overall – when he passed away on March 6, 2022.
Under his watch, the Air Force men's track and field team became the most decorated program in Academy history, with nine Mountain West titles – four more trophies than all other Air Force programs combined. Lindeman was an 18-time conference Coach of the Year and a six-time USTFCCCA Mountain Region Coach of the Year. His Air Force athletes collected 42 Western Athletic Conference titles and 178 Mountain West championships, while earning All-America honors 98 times. He coached three Falcons to eight NCAA titles and oversaw the success of 16 Academic All-Americans and two Rhodes Scholars.
Lindeman coached at every level during his career – from stints at two Arizona high schools (1974-1980) to collegiate stops at Arizona State (assistant coach, 1980-82), Arizona (associate head coach, 1982-84) and Long Beach State (head coach, 1984-89), before finding his home at Air Force (head coach, 1989-2022). He also served on Team USA coaching staffs at two Olympic Festivals (1987, 1993), the 1992 World Junior Championships, the 1999 Pan American Games, the 2001 World University Games, the 2018 World Indoor Championships, the 2007 World Outdoor Championships and the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.
A member of the Drake Relays' Coaches Hall of Fame (Class of 2023) and the Arizona Track Coaches' Hall of Fame (Class of 2009), Lindeman was involved with numerous coaching committees during his illustrious tenure, serving as president of the U.S. Track Coaches Association (2001-03), first chairman of the USTFCCCA Ethics Committee, Chair of the USATF Coaches Advisory Committee, and Chair of the 2000 NCAA Outdoor Championships.
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