Jack Rose Track and Field Complex (Long Beach, California)

 track and field ground  Add category

 Upload a photo

The Jack Rose Track and Field Complex is located on the campus of California State University, Long Beach. It serves as the home of the Long Beach State 49ers men's and women's track and field teams. The location in Long Beach allows for favorable training conditions most of the year.

The name Jack Rose is synonymous with the sport of track & field. He was head coach of the Pacific Coast Club track Team from 1956 to 1973, Director of Track & Field at Long Beach State University from 1974-81, and professor of physical education at Long Beach from 1956-94.

Rose received his B.A. in physical education from the University of Michigan in 1952, his M.A. from Michigan in 1955, and His Ph.D. in Motor Learning and Administration from the University of Southern California in 1962. He was a busy man during his 25 years as a coach at Long Beach State. In addition to the usual complement of meets scheduled for his track and cross country teams, Rose hosted 125 all-comers meets, 41 Long Beach Relays, three conference championships, and one national championship.

Rose-coached teams won six conference titles (five men’s, one women’s) and one Division II national title in 1967. Shortly after his retirement from coaching, he was named LBSU’s outstanding professor in 1983.

Rose was the founding force and Executive Director of the National Track & Field Hall of Fame and a member of the California Governor’s Council for Fitness and Sports. He also served President of the track & field coaches association (1975-76) and as venue chief at the Coliseum for the 1984 Olympic Games. But, most of all, he was an international ambassador for the sport of track & field as a master coach, lecturer, and historian.

Rose retired from coaching in 1981, but remained active in the track & field community until his death in 1996. The annual Jack Rose Relays and the Long Beach track stadium are both named in honor of Rose. He was inducted into the Long Beach State University Athletics Hall of Fame in 1986.