Longtime Alabama Track & Field Coach, Former Olympian Harvey Glance Dead At 66

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Former University of Alabama head men's track and field coach Harvey Glance, who was the first Black head coach in any sport at Auburn and a decorated Olympian, died Monday at the age of 66.

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Originally from Phenix City, Glance went on to become a world-record holder in both the 100-meter and 100-yard dash during his career as an athlete and was also a three-time United States Olympian.

Glance is widely considered to be the greatest sprinter in Auburn track and field history, becoming a four-time NCAA champion for the Tigers from 1976-79.

After winning gold in 1976, Glance also earned gold at the World Championships and the Pan-American Games.

And as a trailblazer, he would go on to become Auburn's first Black head coach in any sport — a role he occupied for six seasons before making the move to Tuscaloosa.

Glance went on to spend 19 years as a collegiate head coach, including at the University of Alabama from 1997-2011. During this 13-year run at The Capstone, he lead his athletes to 181 All-American honors and nine individual NCAA titles.

He also led the Crimson Tide to 10 top-10 team finishes at the NCAA Championships, including a program-best runner-up national indoor finish in 2002.

Glance coached multiple Olympians outside of the college ranks, including three-time 400-meter medalist Kirani James.

Glance was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1996, before being named one of the top-100 State of Alabama's Greatest Athletes of the 20th Century in 2002.

What's more, Glance was also ranked No. 23 on Sports Illustrated's list of the 50 Greatest Sports Figures from the State of Alabama

"I was deeply saddened to hear of Harvey Glance's passing," current Alabama track and field head coach Dan Waters said. "Harvey left a lasting mark on our program and the sport of track and field as a whole. He impacted so many people in the track world, and his spirit will always live with us. He was such a charismatic person and always left a positive impact on everyone he encountered over the years. Harvey was a true legend in the sport."

Funeral arrangements for Glance had not been announced as of the publication of this story.

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