News File Photo Alpena High boys track coach Bob Bennett directs workers to clear hurdles during a track meet at Thunder Bay Junior High School last month. After 35 years leading the Wildcats, Bennett is retiring at the end of the season and will coach Alpena for the final time today at the Division 1 state finals in East Kentwood. Bennett has been coaching since 1989 and took over the job from his father Tom Bennett. All together, the Bennetts will have coached Alpena track for 63 years.

Tradition.

It’s a great thing to have, especially in sports. Those who have a storied tradition don’t want to lose it because it takes time to build it.

For the last 63 years, the Alpena High School track program has carried on a special tradition and legacy. Each spring for the past 63 years, one name attached to the Wildcat track and field team.

Bennett.

Current varsity track and field head coach Bob Bennett has coached the Alpena High track team for 35 years. Bennett began as an assistant coach under his father Tom and later took over as head varsity coach in 1989.

After today that will come to an end as Bob Bennett will coach for the final time, coaching a handful of athletes at the Division 1 state finals at East Kentwood. Six Alpena athletes–Gabe Bullis, Aden Smith, Josh Smith, Aidan Day, Drew Seabase and Faith Weide–will compete in the finals and thus bring an end to an unprecedented era of coaching at Alpena High.

Tom Bennett spent 28 years as coach of the Alpena track team and a special bond between father and son was formed and a legacy began.

“I kind of knew a little more about track and field because of the fact that my dad was coach. I didn’t know much about it until I started doing it, but I found out real fast that I wasn’t much of a runner,” Bob said. “My sophomore year I switched from running the half mile to throwing the shot put. I ran my tail off in the summer and conditioned for football and basketball, but decided to lift, get stronger and throw to get ready for football. I did the same thing for track, but I really discovered I had a passion for throwing the shot put. I know that’s a simple thing, but once it gets in your blood it’s there and I had a lot of fun.”

Bob found out early on track is a much different sport and there is a lot of down time and preparation that has to be handled. During his time as a coach, Tom did a lot of organizational things to prepare for practices and meets. These small things that go unnoticed by many, did not slip by Bob, who was always alert and aware of what was going on and what his dad was doing to help the Alpena track program be successful.

“I found out when I took over that there was a lot to it. I would have flashbacks of him doing the very same things that I have done for so many years, like getting meet sheets ready and preparing rosters,” Bob said. “The biggest thing I learned from my dad was to be fair and consistent with everything that you do.”

Soon after Bob began coaching track at the school, he took over as the physical education teacher at Alpena High. He has made an impact on thousands of athletes over the years, both inside and outside of the school. For 35 years, Bob has always been involved with athletes and has his fair share of memories and ones that he will cherish forever.

“It’s been a lot of fun. I’ve seen a lot of very good athletes over the years and have seen some characters as well, but I have a lot of fond memories,” Bob said. “When I started, I never thought I would be doing it for this long. At the time I knew there was a need here to get the program going and get it going right, so I was really just concerned with getting things going again for the program. I thought I did that and from there I just kept on going. Every year I just kept saying, here we go with another year and I was having a lot of fun.”

Bob still has fun being Alpena’s coach, but after so many years at the helm, he feels it’s time to do something else. He often thinks about the past 63 years and the name Bennett being synonymous with not only Alpena track and field, but Wildcat athletics and he is happy with the mark that he and his father left on the program.

“It’s been a blast. It’s been a lot of fun. I have no regrets and I’m sure a lot more will come to me after I step away. It has been exciting coaching all of the athletes I have had over the years,” Bob said. “This group of kids we have right now is a special group. This is a wonderful crew to go out with and one of the things I feel real good about is I know that this track team next year and beyond is going to be very good. Whoever takes over is going to inherit a good situation. I wish the program nothing but the best and I am thankful to have been apart of something special for so long.”

Jonny Zawacki can be reached via email at jzawacki@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5690.