Helmer Announces Plans to Retire After 2022-23 Season

BLOOMINGTON, Ind.  –  Four-time Big Ten Coach of the Year Ron Helmer announced today that he will retire from his role as the Director of Indiana Men’s and Women’s Track and Field and Cross Country at the conclusion of his contract, which runs through the 2022-23 season.
 
IU Athletics will soon begin formulating a succession plan to fill the position in advance of the 2023-24 season.
 
Helmer’s retirement will bring an end to a coaching career that has spanned more than 50 years and is littered with national champions, Olympic gold medalists, and enormous team accomplishments.
 
“I’ve known for quite some time this day was on the horizon but that doesn’t make the end of my career any easier to contemplate.  For fifty-two years I’ve gone to work every day trying to figure out how to help someone get better, run faster, jump or throw higher or farther and that is coming to an end,” said Helmer.  “To see athletes totally invest in the process and ultimately accomplish things they only dreamed about or perhaps never contemplated has been the thrill that motivated me to continue totally investing myself in that process as well.”
 
“The curse that goes with coaching to win is enough is never enough.  While I’ve been fortunate to enjoy many successes at all levels, it is what I didn’t do, goals I didn’t accomplish, wins that narrowly escaped us, that will haunt me for some time.  I’m incredibly thankful that I was wired in a way that allowed for this “never be satisfied” mindset because it is that which I found necessary to create the ability to move beyond the difficult times, always in search of the next win, the next great experience and there were many.  I’ve learned so much about life, people and myself at every stop along the way and I’m truly grateful for the confidence shown me by some incredible individuals at each stop as well.  This includes, but is not limited to, Scott Dolson and Fred Glass, athletic directors at Indiana University and Joe Lang who served in the same capacity at Georgetown University.  They allowed me to be me and supported and appreciated the efforts I put into the successes of our athletes.”
 
“I owe most to the athletes who accepted the coaching, accepted the challenges and made me look really good by lining up and competing with passion and determination equal to or…