TRUMAN STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS | In Memoriam
John Cochrane
Head Track & Field and Cross Country Coach | 1980–2013

Truman State University Athletics mourns the passing of John Cochrane, one of the most dedicated and beloved coaches in Bulldog history, who died on Sunday, March 29, 2026. For more than three decades, Cochrane shaped the lives of student-athletes as the head coach of the Truman women's track & field and cross country program, and later the men's program as well, leaving a legacy of excellence, integrity, and genuine care that will endure for generations.

A Life in Coaching
A 1968 graduate of Iowa State University, Cochrane went on to earn a master's degree in physical education from Truman in 1982. His coaching career spanned more than 40 years and began at Colo, Iowa, where he directed all sports for one year before moving on to Williamsburg (Iowa) Community School for an 11-year stint. There, he guided his 1978 and 1979 cross country teams to fifth-place finishes at the Iowa 2-A state meet and led his 1978 track squad to a fourth-place state finish.
Cochrane arrived at Truman in 1980 to lead the women's track & field and cross country program, and he never left. In 2005, when men's coach Ed Schneider retired, Cochrane took on the men's teams as well, shepherding both programs until his retirement on June 30, 2013. In 1989, he also served on an interim basis as the university's Athletics Director. After 33 years on the Truman sideline, his fingerprints were everywhere.

A Record of Achievement
Under Cochrane's guidance, four women won five individual NCAA Division II national titles in track & field. Marlene Frahm captured both the 1985 Indoor and Outdoor Shot Put crowns. Saundra Hester (1990) and Christina Winkler (2004) each claimed individual titles in the 400 meter hurdles, and Katrina Biermann added a national Pole Vault championship in 2010. In total, Cochrane's athletes earned 52 individual All-America honors and seven relay All-America honors at indoor, outdoor, and national cross country championships.

On the conference stage, Cochrane led his teams to seven MIAA titles, including a remarkable sweep of the Indoor, Outdoor, and Cross Country championships in the 2000 calendar year. His teams also won the indoor conference title in 1989, 1990, and 2003, and the outdoor crown in 1983. Kerry Knepper recorded the program's highest individual finish at the Division II cross country meet with a fifth-place showing in 1988, and the 2004 cross country team advanced to nationals and placed 20th overall.

Cochrane was equally proud of what his athletes achieved in the classroom. He produced 14 Academic All-Americans, and his teams were consistently ranked among the NCAA Division II leaders in team grade-point average. The 2011 men's team posted the best GPA of any Division II track & field program in the nation, while the women ranked fourth. Stacy Roberts (1991) and Virginia Hoefer (1996) were each finalists for the NCAA Women of the Year Award in the state of Missouri.

Honors and Recognition
The coaching community recognized Cochrane's contributions throughout his career. He was a five-time MIAA Coach of the Year and was named the 1999 Regional Coach of the Year by the United States Track & Field/Cross Country Coaches Association. He received the NCAA Division II Distinguished Service Award in cross country in 1992 and in track & field in 1996. In December 2011, he was inducted into the Missouri Track & Field/Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame, joining other Truman greats Ken Gardner, Ray Armstead, Dan Futrell, and Ed Schneider. In 2013, he was inducted into the Truman State University Athletics Hall of Fame.

Building the Program, Brick by Brick
Cochrane's investment in the Truman program went far beyond coaching. He was instrumental in overseeing the conversion of the track from cinder to the all-weather Kenneth Gardner Track at Stokes Stadium and oversaw the creation of a throws field. He served for years as the meet director for the Truman Open Track & Field meet. And when resources were short, he found another way, using his own money to purchase stationary bikes for indoor training and a snowblower to keep the track clear in winter months.

Those who knew him remember the brightly colored pieces of paper he posted each day, each one carrying a personalized workout with a funny name written in Cochrane's own hand. He drove his minivan alongside runners during their workouts, tracking their progress. He attended high school state championships to recruit, followed former athletes on social media after graduation, and remained genuinely invested in their lives long after their time at Truman had ended.

Remembered by Those He Mentored
"Coach Cochrane was a mentor to so many student-athletes and coaches. He was well respected in the world of track and field among his colleagues. Coach was influential in creating a team culture with lasting bonds. There is a rich history of success both individually and in overall team performances at MIAA and NCAA Championships during his tenure. I'm going to miss our long conversations about the years we worked together. I'm going to miss the days he'd show up to throws practice to watch the kids. I'm especially going to miss listening to him tell me stories about past teams and athletes he coached long before he hired me. Those memories he shared with me were a true representation of who Coach Cochrane was — a coach, a leader, someone who was dedicated to helping shape the lives of so many. I'm grateful for all the years I got to work with him and learn from him. He will be deeply missed." — Leslie Hardesty, Head Track & Field Coach,
Truman State University

"John Cochrane was passionate about the athletes he coached. He followed them from high school, through the state championships. He followed them in his minivan as they ran their workouts, and he followed them on social media after they graduated and continued on with their lives. He spent hours each day writing personalized workouts, posting them with funny names on brightly colored pieces of paper. He made sure they had the equipment and training facilities they needed, often using his own money to buy stationary bikes for indoor training and a snowblower to make the track available." — Michelle Boyd, Head Athletic Trainer, Truman State University

In his own retirement remarks, Cochrane reflected simply: "The opportunity to work with a large number of men's and women's track/cross country athletes is priceless. I will miss very much the 33 years with them."

John Cochrane didn't want personal attention or accolades. He just wanted his former athletes to remember him when they run. They will!