Dan Gable. Plus he can kick all your coaches' candy a****. Including Polish's. And do it with a blown knee.David - lemme guess, you were typing that one-handed? Need a moment to clean up, do you?
I'm still learning Miles City history. Say more about John Polich.Sure! But you've got to promise not to argue with me, Derf.
Brian do you have some stats on JP. He has won so many track and field titles that I can not count them. Plus he is a HOF.Of course I do, Stone.
Here you go:
Under Polich (since 1971), the CCDHS track and field program have won a combined 12 Class A championships and have finished in the top three 26 times.
The Cowgirls won state titles in 1976, 1977, 1980, 1985, 1986, 1990, 1996 and 2001. That's twice as many titles as the next closest Class A program (Belgrade - 4).
Unlike every other Class A team, the Cowgirls have won championships in each of the last four decades. Every other program with at least three titles has had a decided peak that can be attributed largely to an outstanding group of athletes (Butte Central - 1981-83; Billings Central - 1993-95; Colstrip 1997-99; Polson - 2003-04, '08; Belgrade - 2002, 2006-07, '09). Only the Cowgirls have been to the top of the Class 'A' ranks and stayed there over an extended period of time.
The Cowboys won championships in 1984, 1985, 1988 and 1994.
Twenty-six individual Cowgirls have won a total of 53 championships under Polich. Both totals are far and away the most among Class A programs. Seventy-three Cowgirls have placed a total of 260 times at the state meet under Polich. This is also easily the most of any Class A team.
Fourteen individual Cowboys have won a total of 35 championships under Polich. Sixty-three different Cowboys have placed at state a total of 156 times.
The Cowgirls have won 15 Eastern 'A' Divisional championships (1975, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1996, 2001) and have failed to finish in the top three at the divisional meet just five times in the 36 seasons since the girls' program started in 1974. Just for comparison purposes, Sidney has the second-most divisional titles over that span - with 6.
The Cowboys have won 5 Eastern 'A' titles (1978, 1984, 1985, 1988 and 2006) and have placed in the top three places 18 times.
Fifty-two Cowgirls have won a total of 139 divisional championships. This is easily the most among Eastern 'A' programs. Thirty-seven Cowboys have won a total of 83 divisional championships.
Name a track and field organization and JP is a member of its Hall of Fame.
But more importantly, JP is a truly decent human being who cares about each and every athlete who has ever come through his program. His primary goal for each athlete has been for that person to do the very best he or she could do.
Miles City has had more than its share of truly outstanding coaches who are - or have been - at the very top of their sports. There is none that I admire or respect more than JP. He's a great coach - one of the very best - and an even better person.
[This message has been edited by Brian A. Reed (8/13/2009)]