Former Hamline Coach Kent Stahly Mourned

Long-time Hamline track and field and cross country coach Kent Stahly has died. The 74-year-old Ohio native who led the Piper men's track program to nine straight MIAC outdoor championships between 1974 and 1982 died Tuesday.

Stahly began coaching at Hamline in 1965 and retired in 1999. He served as assistant men's basketball coach, assistant football coach, head men's cross country coach, and head men's track and field coach. Stahly also served as chair of the health and physical education department.

“Kent had a positive impact on hundreds of student-athletes during his career at Hamline," current track and cross country coach Paul Schmaedeke, an athlete under Stahly while at Hamline, said. "He was a coach who taught more then just the sport. Because of his teaching and mentoring, we not only became better athletes, we became better people."

In addition to the string of MIAC titles, Stahly's Pipers finished second at the NCAA Division III championships in 1982 and 1983. Through 1993, his track teams earned 79 All-American honors and had twelve individual national champions.

Stahly started the cross country program at Hamline in 1966 and the indoor track and field program in 1967. His cross country teams won MIAC championships in 1973, 1975 and 1977, and he coached six NCAA Division III All-Americans in cross country. He was also the offensive line coach for Hamline’s 1966 MIAC champion football team.

Stahly was inducted into the Minnesota Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2002.

Services for Stahly ... Calling hours are from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. on Friday, February 20, at the Roseville Chapel. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 21, at 10 a.m. at the Hamline United Methodist Church. A reception will follow the service at the church.