If the 1988 U.S. Olympic decathletes step up to receive medals at the games in Seoul, South Korea, one of the people they can thank for getting them there may be SF State's track and field coach Harry Marra.
Marra was selected to be the head coach of the 1985 U. S. Men's Decathlon Team last week after being nominated for one of two positions by the U. S. Athletic Congress.
Marra was asked to be either the Women's Heptathlon coach or the Men's Decathlon coach.
"This is a very high honor for any coach," said Marra. "It's a big step, I'm very pleased."
In July, Marra will coach the U.S. team in Sastatoon, Canada and accompany the team to West Germany later this year.
The 38-year-old coach was chosen from among 10 other nominees.
Marra has been a college coach since receiving his master's of science degree in physical education from Syracuse University in 1974.
He has been coaching at SF State for four years.
Marra coached at both UC Santa Barbara and Springfield College, Mass.
He was assistant coach in 1981 and head coach in 1982 at the annual U.S. Olympic Committee National Sports Festival.
In 1980, Marra was the only American awarded a scholarship by the U.S. State Department to attend the International Amateur Athletic Federation Coaching Conference in Mexico City.
[ back to Golden Gater Online May 2, 1986 ]
[ back to top ]