Cross country is an interesting sport, but it is not as popular as other high profile fall season sports of football, soccer and volleyball. Cross country is not fielded by too many schools for the deaf - at latest count only 8 schools have cross country programs - emphasis is on program, as opposed to teams. Five runners are required to comprise a team, but if there are less than 5 runners - then runners meets individually instead of as teams.
 There are many tracksters that prefer cross country over track. This is not surprising- long distance running consists of running on the track oval in repetitious turns, a process many runners find boring. Cross country courses, on the other hand, are varied and interesting.  There are cross country terrains that are laid out on mountains, on hills, on flatlands, on deserts, on golf courses, and even in some cases on cordoned-off city streets. This is why cross country aficionados find this sport more fascinating than track. 
  Jim Koetz is a longtime cross country coach at California School for the Deaf at Fremont.  A former Gallaudet trackster and cross country runner, he takes cross country seriously.  This column is being dedicated to him. He is seriously ill and has not been able to coach cross country this season. Because of Jim's illness his Fremont runners have made this season a mission - running all out in each meet this season, not just for themselves, or for the school but to perpetuate Jim's honor.
 There are coaches - considered elite, these select few at schools for the deaf - they know how to motivate their charges and are always finding ways to win - in other words knowing how to will victory onto their charges. Examples in mind are Don Hackney, basketball at Alabama School far the Deaf; Mike McGeath, track at Indiana School for the Deaf: Andy Bonheyo, football at Texas School for the Deaf and Bob Gellner, soccer at Rochester School for the Deaf. There may be more coaches.  Those mentioned come immediately to memory and if others feel slighted by not being mentioned then it is unintentional.
  Jim easily fits in among these elite coaches. His teams have always been doing very well among cross country teams in the Bay Area, and have been perennial winners of the Silent News National Cross Country Teams of the Year honors. And at USA Deaf Track/DAFUS meets, his teams do very well. And in several seasons his runners have competed at the post-season state cross country championship meets. Mention Merrill Samuels and Jason Hardy, his greatest runners of past season, a smile will be elicited on Jim's face.
  How serious is Jim in cross country?  He annually recruits runners, those not either interested in or not rugged enough to play football, and makes runners out of them. It does not matter if they have never run before or if they basically do not like to run at all, they become Jim's champion runners.
  Jim will not just bring his runners to cross country courses prior to meets and exhort them to run their best and their fastest. He will walk through the course, forever taking notes, scouting the terrains for hidden hazards or for overlooked slopes - advising his runners to pace or to run their best at selected intervals.
 The Silent News sports editor remembers one year he lived in San Leandro, CA, not too far from the Fremont campus. He would recall many hours he would spend with Jim just talking cross country alone! The Silent News staff thanks Jim for the big contribution he has made to cross country and also wishes and prays for speedy recovery.

  Although Jim was taken from us, the imprint of his personality remains living and vivid in our minds and the sense of his loss, in no way, dims among his friends and students, especially his harriers of the present and of the past.
  Jim touched all of our lives. He made us laugh, he astonished us with his bravery and, most of all, his devotion to us and CSD. He had a unique way of looking at life and the mysteries around us.
  Three Mondays ago, with Ken and Carlene Pedersen, I visited with Jim in Walnut Creek. Jim and I wrapped ourselves in a bear hug, lasting two minutes. During the hug, waves of cherished memories poured over both of us. We remembered the day in the fall of 1961 when we met for the first time and he was 14 years old in seventh grade. What he impressed me mostly was that he enjoyed talking with adults especially staff members. Also, he really enjoyed making people laugh with his jokes.
  He grew up into a fine student and a three-letter athlete. In 1962, he played a right end on a JV football team that won the league championship. In 1965, right end Jim was co-captain of the varsity football team. He was honored as "Sportsman of the Week" by the East Bay Prep Writers Association.  The Deaf American magazine named Jim Honorable Mention in football in 1965 and basketball in 1966. Jim was co-captain of the 1966 track team that won the league champions. Jim is one of my boys!
  Jim was not only active in sports but also in the school organizations. He was treasurer of the Student Council when Jacob Arcanin was dean of students. Apparently, he was thoroughly trusted with money as he was treasurer of the Student Body (SBG), Literary Society and Class of 1967. He was president of Theophilus d'Estrella Literary Society and vice-president of FAA during the year of 1966-67. He was also Campus Prince that year.
  When Jim returned to his alma mater in 1979 as a teacher, he readily took charge of the cross country program. His cross country coaching career for 19 years proved highly successful. His coaching techniques was remarkable, for he had brought the best out of each cross country runner. Jim was able, hard working, conscientious and, above all, a modest gentleman and a true friend of ours.
  The character and achievements of Jim Koetz should forever prove a source of encouragement and inspiration to young boys and girls of CSD.
  Farewell, Jim.

           Jim Koetz has been a CSD cross country coach for nearly two decades. A former Gallaudet trackster and cross country runner, he took this sport seriously although it is not popular as other high school sports. At latest count, only eight deaf schools in the nation have CC programs.
           Jim entered CSD in 1955 and graduated in ’67. During his heyday, he starred in football and won the All-American award by The Silent Worker. He was also awarded with honors in basketball and track as well. Then at Gallaudet, he became a dedicated harrier and a star runner.
           When he returned to CSD in 1979 as a teacher, Jim earnestly took over the reins as a CC coach. Three years earlier Andy Smith, the hearing coach, founded the CSD Cross Country after Dean of Students Ken Norton originated the idea and Dr. Klopping approved it. 
           Jim’s magical rapport and motivation attracted the CSD boys. He was a father image to them by just telling them to think RUN and RUN. That surely helped them develop stamina and endurance.
           Cross country is not an easy sport as the runners must withstand the tough obstacles like terrains, hills, mountains, flatlands, deserts and city streets. This is why the cross country aficionados find this sport more fascinating and challenging than track. It takes a team of five to win, and if less than five runners, they must meet individually.
           As it seems, CSD always produced perennial runners under mentor Jim.  His specialty was making many winners out of those who were neither interested nor rugged enough to play football, and thus bringing CSD up to many league and national deaf championships. For that, he would be easily qualified as one of the most elite coaches in the deaf nation. 
           Jim made many All-American harriers and brought CSD many Deaf Athletic Federation of the United States (DAFUS) titles. In 1992, CSD won the DAFUS three times in a row and a second place in ’93. Then again, CSD captured three more titles, 7 out of 8 years, and already held its reign of 10 national championships. Jim also made CSD the National Team of the Year many times, and as a result he won several Boys’ Cross-Country Coach of the Year awards.
          According to the new CSD Booster Club newsletter, Jim continued his magical work with his harriers for another impressive season, 10-2, last fall. During the Big Game, they had their first-time meet with CSD-Riverside and won the meet easily, 40-17. They were ecstatic about winning this historic event.
          Jim’s protégé, Brice Pruyn was the first harrier in CSD history to enter the state championship and win a medal!
          It is with much sadness to report that Jim had to leave his job on account of the terminal illness. His CC and track team has since adjusted very well under new coaches, Tamera Gaudet Thigpen and Stan Booth.
          Jim has left his rich legacy to CSD and now becomes a legendary coach in CSD sports history. It may not be easy to fill in his big shoes!

       Today we have come together to say farewell to a fine friend, coach, and teacher. All of us are saddened that we will not enjoy the warmth and friendship of this fine, gentle man who saw in the California School for the Deaf a place where he belonged and where he is appreciated and loved.
       Jim Koetz graduated from the California School for the Deaf when it was located in Berkeley. He was involved in sports and particularly loved track. He also was in love with the school, which he saw as his home. When I became Superintendent of the school and when he applied to become a teacher at CSD the thing that struck me about him was his great love for the school and his overwhelming desire to remain a part of the school as a teacher. Jim was a man, like Leo Jacobs, Theophilus d'Estrella and Laurent Clerc whose attachment to a school for the deaf was so great that the majority of their life was connected to that school.
       No one can doubt that Jim Koetz loved the school and especially he loved the kids that he taught and coached. Jim spent many hours of his time working with and helping the deaf students in his classes and in cross country and track. Jim had a special feel for our late blooming students and his focus in his professional life was on those who were, in his eyes, less fortunate than himself. He dedicated himself to working hard to help students believe in themselves and therefore in their ability to succeed in life.
       In December of 1998, I went to a the Cross Country Finals in San Francisco's famous Golden Gate Park. Although he was ill, Jim made a special effort to be at the park to see his "boys" participate in the cross country meet. He remained at the park the full time that the students were there and at the end he was able to see his "boys" do very well in the competition which qualified them for the state meet. At the end of the meet, there was an awards program. At the beginning of the Awards Program, the Commissioner of our League told of the many battles that Jim had been involved with over the years in coaching and said that Jim was now facing the biggest battle of his life in the cancer that was making him so ill. He presented Jim with a plaque commemorating his years of service to cross country and his dedication to the students whom he coached. Jim made a few comments that day which I will never forget. He told the cheering students and coaches there that he should take that plaque and cut it up into many many pieces because it belonged to the students and to others with which he worked. Jim was a humble person who never wanted to take any credit for himself. This was a defining part of his character. When he finished saying the few words he spoke, everyone stood and clapped for him. There were many tears in the audience that day. It was an inspiring moment for me and for everyone. Especially touching was that the students dedicated their efforts to him and gave him credit for all that he had done for them.
       This is the legacy that Jim Koetz leaves behind. His love for his school. His love for his students. His love for the boys and girls he coached. His love for his friends and family. It will always be said that Jim Koetz was dedicated to his students and was a loyal friend to all. We will miss this gentle man who touched our lives and know that he is out there encouraging all of us to do our best. We are thankful that he shared his time and himself with us and we will never forget him.

Farewell, Jim.

   This is a tribute to Jim Koetz--a special friend, teacher and coach--who passed away on February 7, 1999 after a valiant battle against brain cancer.
    Jim was a proud alumnus of CSD having graduated in 1967. After receiving his BA from Gallaudet, an MA from CSUN, and a teaching stint in the Virgin Islands, he returned to his alma mater in 1978.  He taught the school’s special needs students until the start of this year, when he had brain surgery.  In his own unique, genuine, unassuming and caring style, he invariably nurtured his students' self-esteem and communication skills.
    Jim was also nationally known for his cross-country coaching prowess. With his uncanny ability of finding hidden cross-country potential among students who did not want to play football or volleyball, he consistently developed outstanding runners and highly successful teams. To wit, during Jim's outstanding tenure, CSD consistently finished in the upper echelon of the tough Bay Counties League (BCL), sent three harriers to the state meet, won eight national cross-country championships among schools for the Deaf and had numerous harriers named All-America.  In essence, Jim single-handedly turned CSD's cross-country program into the school's most successful sports program. This put CSD on the map in many circles all over the state and country. He did all this in such a low-key and modest manner.
    As with his special needs students, Jim served as a father figure to his cross-country runners.  Many of the students fortunate to have known and worked with him have attested to Jim having had an indispensable and profound impact on them--an impact that will continue to serve the students well in life for many years to come.
   The entire CSD community is saddened by this tremendous loss.  Although we have lost a wonderful and special friend, teacher and coach, Jim's legacy shall live on.  Because of him, many lives--from students to staff alike--have been enriched.

Jim Koetz coached the Eagles cross-country team for 19 years.  He was like a father to the team.  All the runners have said that.

Coach Koetz gave his time to the runners on the team.  For example, he would ask other coaches for the best diet, exercise program and techniques for his runners.  Coach Koetz would also watch the runners on the teams for new tips he could share with his own team’s runners.

Even after Coach Koetz found out he had cancer, he still did not want to give up coaching the team.  He would check to make sure I did everything I was supposed to do with the runners.  I would reassure him that I knew what I am doing and would take care of the team.

It was very hard on the boys when Coach Koetz had to leave.  Even after he had officially left, he still continued to support the team.  He went to watch them compete at the Bay Counties League and the North Coast Section meets. At BCL, it was really touching.  Coach Koetz went to watch the boys even though he was suffering from a lot of pain.  BCL honored him,  this year, with a special plaque for his 19 years of service to BCL and cross-country.  Several CSD staff and friends went to witness the event – Dr. Klopping, Dennis Catron, Ken Norton, Larry Pratt, Derek Johnson, Margie Bella’s husband, Henry, and her son, Kevin.

At BCL, Coach Koetz felt like he was still in charge.  I let him go ahead and enjoy himself!  His team did very well.  It was a good competition for him to watch.

Coach Koetz went to watch the NCS competition as well.   He said, “I can’t believe CSD won two out of five medals.  It’s impossible!”  Then, he watched the ceremony and saw it for himself. He finally realized it was true!

As a token of their dedication to Coach Koetz, all the boys on the team put his initials “JK” on the back of their running shoes.