Thurston County Running History: Coach Brian Anderson Touched Many Lives, Including Mine

The picture was taken at Coach Anderson's home in Arizona with yours truly and Coach Brian Anderson.

As we embark on another track and field season,, I'm reminded of my head high school track and field coach, Brian Anderson. Brian was an unsung hero of his generation, and I strive to honor his legacy, remarkable achievements, and the care he extended to us once or twice a year.

Coach Anderson was the most successful head track and field coach in North Thurston High School history. Under his leadership, the Rams achieved two consecutive state runner-up finishes at the Washington State Track and Field Championships in 1976 and 1977.

As the head coach of the boys' and girls' teams at North Thurston, Coach Anderson earned five championship trophies at the Washington State Track and Field events.

Throughout his 15-year coaching career from 1970 to 1984, Coach Anderson led teams with numerous individual state champions and one national champion. Several of his athletes have since been inducted into the North Thurston High School Hall of Fame.

As the head coach at North Thurston, Coach Brian Anderson won district and league track and field titles. His state champions include Keith Koplitz, Bryan Hoddle, Larry Weber, Lori Dresser, and Carl Gates.

Coach Anderson was head track and field coach at North Thurston High School when Hall of Fame members Paul Kelly, Devin Brown, Larry Weber, and John Schultz were also on the high school track and field teams.

Carl Gates became a national high school champion in the javelin throw and one of the best ever in his event from our area.

Bryan Hoddle became the United States Head Paralympic Track and Field coach in Greece and one of the nation's best high school sprint coaches, coaching countless individual and relay state sprint track and field champions. For his work with disabled veterans, Bryan was named one of Runners World Magazine's people of the year. He is also a retired teacher and continues to motivate and help disabled veterans across the country.

Larry Weber finished second in the nation in the 880-yard run at the U.S. National Junior Olympics in Ithaca, New York, set school and conference records in the 800 meters at his University, and has gone on to coach 12 Washington State High School Cross-Country championship teams and one state championship track and field team thus far. He has also been named Washington State High School cross-country coach of the year five times. Weber also won the Original Ultimate Runner Competition (10k, 400 meters, 100 meters, a mile, and a marathon all ran on the same day), securing the title of the world's best all-around runner in the 1980s.

John Schultz achieved collegiate Honorable Mention All-American status in football and went on to become a successful high school football and track coach. His high school football team placed second in the state finals. John served as a school administrator for years and became part of a distinguished group of area head throw coaches. One of his sons won the NAIA national championship in the hammer throw. Though retired, John recently accepted the head and field coaching position at Saint Martin University.

Devin Brown became a 25-foot-long jumper at Oregon State, one of the longest jumps in our area's history.

Paul Kelly achieved national recognition in the hammer throw during his college went on to become a successful throws coach. He worked alongside local throws coaching legend Dwight Midles, who placed higher in the Olympic Trials than any other field event athlete in our county's history.

Many of Coach Anderson's student-athletes became teachers or coaches, including current North Thurston head track and field coach Brent Warner. In addition, Brian Anderson helped mentor and build his team members into strong leaders. Several of his students became leaders in their professions outside of the sports arena.

Coach Anderson set the bar high in the classroom as a teacher and on the field as a coach. He never cut his athletes slack in the school or on the field. He was one strict English teacher in a good way. Students learned how to write well in Coach Anderson's class. His red correction pen is legendary.

No one at North Thurston High School has been the head coach of more high school state individual track and field champions than Brian Anderson.

While serving as head coach at North Thurston, Coach Anderson made a huge difference in my life and the lives of many others.

Coach Anderson and assistant coaches Mr. McDonald, Mr. Dobosz, Mr. Thomas, Mr. Roswell, Mrs. Smith, and Mrs. Dietrich deserve credit for the above accomplishments. During Coach Anderson's tenure, North Thurston Track and Field experienced a magical time.

Our lives would not be the same without the dedication and support of Coach Anderson and the other coaches of our era. We are all indebted to Coach Anderson, his assistant coaches, and the love and care they displayed for our team.

As the most successful head track and field coach in North Thurston school history, I wish to express my gratitude to my former coach for his hard work, dedication, and genuine love for his athletes, as well as for making a positive impact on my life.

One day, I hope Brian is inducted into our high school Hall of Fame.

Blessings,

Coach Weber

Philippians 4:13

Thurston County Running and Track & Field Historian

Endnote: I have visited coach Brian Anderson in Florence, Arizona, several times. It was a surreal feeling knowing that we are both retired now. Coach Anderson was a young man when he started coaching our group. He still has those old English grading pens. All those red marks he wrote on our papers years ago paid off! :

In high school, I was to finish second in the nation, narrowly missing the existing national Junior Olympic record in Ithaca, New York. I ran 1:51.7 for 800 meters (1:52.3 for yards), a time that still stands as the area record 50 years later. Coach Anderson was my head track and field coach at my school.

Coach Bryan Hoddle was my teammate in high school, while Coach Anderson served as head track and field coach. Bryan won the state championship in the 400 meters and went on to become one of best sprint coaches in America, serving as the Paralympic Track and Field coach in Athens, Greece, and coaching world record holders in the Paralympics. Bryan was named Runner's Person of the by Runner's World Magazine for his work with disabled veterans.

Bryan and I had the privilege of coaching Paralympic athletes to achieve world records. The guidance of mentors such as Coach Anderson in our lives enabled us to assist others in their journeys.

John Schultz, one of Coach Anderson's prodigies became a High School Principal and one of the most successful throws coaches in the State of Washington. John's son won the national championship in the hammer at the NAIA level. Like me, John is retired from everything but coaching. He is the head track and field coach at Saint Martin's University in Lacey, Washington.

In this picture, we are with Dr. Jack Daniels, called "The World's Greatest Running Coach" by Runner's World Magazine. Jack became one of my mentors and along with his Wife, Nancy Jo, we became friends. Jack is 91 years young.

The picture was taken in May of 2024.

I was blessed to with the title of the best overall runner in the world in the Original Ultimate Runner Competition at the end of my career. The Original Ultimate Runner Competition consisted of running a 10k, 400 meters, 100 meters, a mile and marathon all ran on the same day.

All of us owe a debt of gratitude to coach Anderson, Coach Dobosz, Coach Mcdonald, Coach Roswell and others for helping to launch our careers.

I remain friends with Bryan Hoddle and John Schultz even after 50 years. Bryan resides approximately 10 miles from Coach Anderson in Arizona and is retired. He occasionally conducts track and field coaching seminars mentoring coaches.

Bryan and I talk weekly even though he lives in Arizona, and I live in Washington State. I see John frequently because we live in the same hometown.

Photograph, from left right: Larry Weber and Bryan Hoddle at my sister's residence in Arizona.

    Coach Anderson and his lovely wife, Barabara, enjoying the retirement life.