Clyde Hart obit

"RIP"- Track world mourns the death of legendary coach who trained Michael Johnson, Sanya Richards-Ross and many top athletes

 

He was not on the list.

On Saturday Baylor track and field announced the death of longtime track and field coach Clyde Hart. He was 91.

Hart spent 42 years as the Baylor track and field coach where he built up the program’s worldwide reputation as “Quarter Miler U.” He retired in 2005 and transitioned into the position of track and field director, a position he held until 2018.

One of the best there has ever been.

Former T&F coach Todd Harbour on "Quartermiler U." coaching legend Clyde Hart, who died Saturday at 91:

“He pushed us to always be the best and to pursue excellence in everything we did." pic.twitter.com/kl3C1ll4F3

— Baylor Track & Field (@BaylorTrack) November 2, 2025

Pupils of Hart’s won Olympic gold medals in six straight Olympics from 1996-2012. The most notable of those was Michael Johnson, a former Baylor Bear who was only ever coached by Hart. Johnson won gold in the 400-meter in 1996 and 2000. Hart also coached Jeremy Wariner, who won gold in the 400 in 2004. All told, Hart coached nine Olympians who won a total of 13 gold medals.

Hart also coached 34 national champions (14 individual and 20 relay) and 561 All-America performances at Baylor — 431 men’s All-America honorees (134 individual and 297 relay) and 130 women’s All-Americans (46 individual and 84 relay).

Another one of his pupils, Greg Haughton, won bronze at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, and he also coached Sanya Richards, who was the top-ranked female 400 runner in the world in 2007 and won gold at the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Hart was a state champion sprinter at Hot Springs, Arkansas and graduated from Baylor University in 1956 with a Bachelor's degree, and later from the University of Arkansas with a Master's degree.

He was married to Maxine Hart.