Doug Pollard, professor of physical education and head men's & women's indoor and outdoor track & field coach, died on Monday, October 22, 2007 from a sudden cardiac-related incident.

“Doug Pollard was a pillar of the Moravian community,” said Christopher M. Thomforde, Moravian College president. “He touched the lives of many students throughout his career as a coach and faculty member. He was a mentor, teacher and friend whose presence will be sorely missed.”

Pollard had served as head coach of the men’s and women’s track and field teams since the sport was re-introduced in 1984. He guided over 150 student-athletes to appearances at the NCAA Division III indoor and outdoor national championships, with 69 earning All-American accolades.

Pollard's teams won 14 Middle Atlantic Conference indoor team titles and 16 MAC outdoor titles. Of those championships, the women won the 11 of the last 12 indoor MAC Championships and 13 of the last 15 outdoor MAC Championships. Pollard's track & field teams have had three top ten finishes at the NCAA national meet, two by the men's program and one by the women's squad. Eight of the nine individual national champions in Moravian history have been won by six Pollard-coached track & field athletes. Pollard was the 2007 United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Division III Mideast Region Women's Coach of the Year.

“Doug’s passing is a tremendous loss for Moravian College and the track and field community that extends well-beyond our campus,” said Paul Moyer, director of athletics. “Doug embodied the word coach; he was an educator, mentor, teacher, and leader of the highest order.  For us at Moravian, the student-athletes, and others whose lives he’s touched, it’s Doug’s sense of humor, compassion, and insight that will endure and be remembered.”

Pollard was in the midst of leading the program's transition to the Landmark Conference in 2007-08. He also served as an assistant football coach through the 1990 season while at Moravian.

As an assistant football coach at Kutztown University he founded a powerlifting team that won national titles in 1981 and 1982. Pollard was a four-year starter in football and track and earned a B.S. in secondary education while at Kutztown. He also earned an M.Ed. in health and physical education from East Stroudsburg University.

A campus Vigil of Prayer and Consolation was held on Tuesday, October 23rd in Prosser Auditorium, and nearly 700 friends and relatives attended a memorial service on Sunday, November 4, in First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem. Following the service, there was open reception on campus at Johnston Hall.  Online condolences may be offered at www.morellofuneralhome.com.

Contributions: The family is requesting all memorials be made to Douglas L. Pollard Family Trust, Bethlehem Teachers Federal Credit Union, 2317 Easton Ave., Bethlehem, PA 18017, in memory of Douglas.

Doug Pollard's Career Achievements At a Glance

Middle Atlantic Conference Team Champions
Men (indoors) – 1996
Women (indoors) – 2007, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1993, 1992
Men (outdoors) – 1996, 1991, 1989
Women (outdoors) – 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995 (co-champions), 1994, 1993

Middle Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year
Women (indoors) – 2007, 2005, 2004
Women (outdoors) – 2005, 2004, 2003

United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Division III Mideast Region Coach of the Year
Women (indoors) – 2007

NCAA Division III Mideast Region Coach of the Year
Women (outdoors) – 1999

NCAA National Champions
Jeff Cullingford – 800-meter run outdoors, 800-meter run indoors – 1990
Joe Moore – long jump indoors – 2003
Greg O’Neil – 55-meter hurdles indoors – 1994
Christina Scherwin – javelin – 2002, 2003
Tracy Wartman – 1,500-meter run outdoors – 1994
Heidi Wolfsberger – 1,500-meter run indoors – 2001