Gordon Aldrich
Coach Aldrich was a late addition to the 2007 Alma College Coaching Staff and went right to work rebuilding the program. In his first year at the helm, both the men's and women's teams improved and both saw an increase in participants.
Aldrich has spent the better part of the last three decades coaching in the high school ranks with unbelievable success. During his 26 years as a varsity Boy’s and Girl’s Cross Country Coach, Aldrich has won a Girls Open State Championship (1978), a Girls State Championship (1995), two Boy’s State Championships (1994, 1997), and was Runner-up on seven other occasions. During the same time, Aldrich coached teams to 17 conference championships, was nominated for the Michigan Interscholastic Track Coaches Association Coach of the Year 12 times for cross country, and walked away with the award four times (1994, 1995, 1996, and 1998). He was also named the Boy’s Cross Country National Coach of the Year in 1999 by the National Federation Interscholastic Coaches Association.
As impressive as Coach Aldrich’ cross country resume is, it in no way overshadows what he has done in Track & Field. In 30 years of high school coaching, Aldrich brought home four state championships and 21 conference championships. He was named the Michigan Interscholastic Track Coaches Association Coach of the Year in 1985, 1986 1987, 1988, and 1998. Aldrich was also honored with Michigan High School Coaches Association Track Coach of the Year in 1985 and 1998, and has received the Charles Sweeney Michigan Coaches Hall of Fame Track & Field Award.
When asked about what has drawn him to coaching Aldrich responded, “In the realm of education, interscholastic athletics is one of the few remaining places where the ideals of competition, profit motive, individual initiative and the worth and dignity of the individual can still be taught and great lessons learned by the student athletes.”
Talking about his expectations for the Alma College Cross Country and Track & Field programs, “I have won championships in Boy’s and Girl’s Track & Field and/or Cross Country at every school I have coached at. The expectations here will be no different.”
The first change Coach Aldrich made at Alma College- having the NCAA Division III National Championship date added to his Cross Country Schedule.
Aldrich completed his undergraduate degree from Michigan State University with a major in Physical Education and a minor in Social Science in 1971. He received an MA in Education Administration from Central Michigan University in 1990. He currently resides in Corunna, Mi. with his wife Jennifer Jean. Gordon has three kids; Robin, Lance, and Jared who all have graduated from Michigan State University.
