Nebraska Assistant Track Coach Dies Hours Before NCAA Championships

June 9, 2011 /

Mark Colligan, a member of the NU track and field coaching staff since 1987, died Wednesday in Des Moines, Iowa, where the Huskers were competing in the NCAA Championships.

According to an NU athletic department news release, Colligan, 47, was found unresponsive in his hotel room Wednesday afternoon.

“We are very saddened to hear of Mark Colligan’s unexpected death,” athletic director Tom Osborne said in the release. “He has been taken from us at far too young of an age. We are very aware of the needs of his family at this most difficult time, and our thoughts and prayers are with them. Mark was a fine student-athlete for us here at Nebraska and he has done an outstanding job coaching our throws events, including numerous conference and NCAA champions.”

Colligan had five athletes competing in Des Moines on Wednesday: Morgan Wilken, Samantha Musil, Tyler Hitchler, Chad Wright and Adam Wolkins.

Colligan graduated from Nebraska with a degree in business administration in 1986 following a successful career on the track. He was voted a team captain as a senior and won the Big Eight outdoor shot put title. He qualified for the NCAA indoor and outdoor championships as a senior, and he was awarded the team’s most-improved athlete award in 1983 and 1986.

After graduation, Colligan joined the NU coaching staff as throws coach. Since 1987, he has coached 74 conference champions and five athletes who have a combined 12 national titles. His throwers have earned a combined 68 All-America awards, and 44 have qualified for the NCAA Championships.

“Mark has been a part of our program as an athlete and a coach for over 25 years and it has been a pleasure to have him as both a colleague and friend,” head coach Gary Pepin said in the news release. “Mark was a vital member in the success of our program and he will be missed both on and off the track. Our thoughts go out to his wife and children and we ask the Husker family to keep them in their thoughts.”

Colligan is survived by his wife, Jean, daughter, Jessica, and two sons, Max and Sam.


Leave a Reply