Chuck Koeppen had a legendary 37-year career at
Carmel (Ind.), winning an incredible 23 state championships while coaching boys and girls track and cross country.
Following his retirement three years ago, he is building a national college cross country powerhouse at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). His budding program will receive a huge boost on Wednesday when four of the top seven finishers in last fall's Indiana state cross country meet plan to sign with the Jaguars, according to the LaPorte Herald-Argus.
The headliner is Mitch Hubner of
LaPorte (Ind.), who ran an outstanding time of 15 minutes, 32.9 seconds to finish second in the state meet to Nike national champion Futsum Zeinasellassie of
North Central (Indianapolis). Hubner is among the select runners who have competed in the state cross country finals during all four years of high school.
Other top recruits and their state finishes are: Joey Zielinski,
St. Joseph's (South Bend, Ind.), who placed fourth; Miguel Lozano,
Mishawaka (Ind.), sixth; and Sam Roudebush,
Noblesville (Ind.), seventh.
The Jaguars also are planning to field a full track team this spring.