Meet Head Coach Ken Klatka
Ken Klatka, an associate professor of physical education
at Springfield College, will enter his 34th season as head
coach, and 39th as a coach overall, of the men’s track and field program in 2009-2010. He ranks
among the nation’s most successful coaches, with an
overall record of 407 wins, 140 losses, and two ties for
an impressive .740 winning percentage.Klatka’s teams are among the best in the region. This past indoor season, which was an historic one in that Springfeld College hosted its first three indoor track & field meets in its new Field House, Klatka's team finished fourth in the ECAC Division III Championships, and in a tie for 17th at the NCAA Division III Championships in Terre Haute, Indiana.
Outdoors, SC placed third in the NEWMAC's, third in the New England Division III's, eighth in the ECAC Division III's (the latter two sites held at Springfield College), and tied for 11th at the NCAA Division III's at Marietta College in Ohio.
Under Klatka's direction, Steve Headley '10 became a two-time NCAA Champion in '08-'09, winning the 55-meter dash indoors (in a personal best 6.24 seconds), and the 100-meter dash outdoors (in 10.51 seconds). Headley's best in the 100-meters was a 2009 NCAA Division III and personal best of 10.39 seconds. Headley went unbeaten in both events.
During the '07-'08 outdoor season, Klatka guided his team to sweeps in two meets, a third place finish at the NEWMAC Championships and the Division III ECAC Championships, and a fourth place finish at the Division III New England Championships.
Klatka is part of a long line of Pride coaches who have shared their expertise internationally. In 1978 and ’82, he traveled to Aruba and spent a month conducting clinics and lecturing student-athletes. He has conducted numerous clinics in the Northeast, including several at Springfield College.
Klatka has been the meet director for countless Western Massachusetts high school track and field and cross country championships, and has served as the state director of the U.S. Track and Field Federation. He was the field coordinator for the 1990 Massachusetts Special Olympics and has been the track coordinator for the Massachusetts Senior Games, held annually at Springfield College.
Klatka, a 1969 Springfield College graduate, was captain of the cross country team, where he set a number of school and course records. He earned his master’s degree from Springfield College in 1970. After graduation, he coached the College’s men’s cross country team for seven seasons.
Klatka was a standout runner at Memorial High in Manchester, N.H., establishing state records in the mile and two-mile runs while winning four state titles. In 1994, he was among the charter members enshrined in that school’s Athletic Hall of Fame. He was inducted in the city of Manchester's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1996.
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Head Coach Ken Klatka
Ken Klatka, enters his 34th season as head coach of the men’s track and field program in 2009-2010. He ranks among the nation’s most successful coaches, with an overall record of 407 wins, 140 losses, and two ties for an impressive .740 winning percentage. Under his direction, Steve Headley '10 won two NCAA titles in '08-'09.
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