Nov. 20, 2002

WACO, Texas - Baylor track and field head coach Clyde Hart has been chosen as a member of the 2003 induction class to the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame. The inductees will be honored at a ceremony in February. Hart is already a member of the United States Track and Field Coaches Hall of Fame, the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, The Baylor University Hall of Fame and the Arkansas Track and Field Hall of Fame.

Hart was an accomplished track runner at Hot Springs High School in Hot Springs, Arkansas. In 1951 he took the state title in the 100-yard dash. He also ran a 9.8 in that event, which at the time was a state all-time best. He also was the starting halfback on his high school football team in 1951.

Hart earned a full scholarship to Baylor, where he competed for the Bears from 1952-56. While at Baylor, Hart set school records in the 100-yard (9.3; still a record) and the 220-yard (20.6) dashes. He also was a member of the 440-yard relay team that tied the world record. He was the captain of the track team and earned the Outstanding Track Athlete award in 1956.

After his competition days at Baylor, Hart returned to his home state where he coached at Little Rock Central High School from 1957-63. In five seasons, his squads won five state cross country titles, five state track and field championships and 58 of the 60 track meets they competed in, including coming out victorious in the final 50 races of his high school coaching career. After the 1963 season, Hart returned to his alma mater to coach the track and field team.

Entering his 40th year at the helm of the Baylor team, Hart has established one of the nation's top track and field programs. Hart's teams have finished in the top 4 at the NCAA Championships seven times as well as recording 19 top 10 finishes.

In his time at Baylor, Hart has coached 24 NCAA champions, eight NCAA record holders, 107 Southwest Conference Champions, 44 Big 12 Champions, two World Champions and four Olympians, who have earned five gold and one bronze medal. For his accomplishments Hart has been recognized as the NCAA Indoor Coach of the Year twice as well as earning numerous conference Coach of the Year honors.

Beyond the collegiate ranks, Hart was named the United States Olympic Committee's Track Coach of the Year in 1996 and was selected as an assistant coach for USA Track and Field at the 2000 Olympic Games.

Hart's track and field team will begin the 2002-03 season Jan. 17-18 at the Houston Indoor Invitational.