North Central College Press Release On Al Carius

Photo Credit: North Central College

Today the state learned of the passing of legendary coach Al Carius. Al was one of the most beloved coaches in the entire nation throughout his time leading the men of North Central College. He created a great culture at the school. His motto "Run for fun and personal bests" is used widely among the coaching community. Jacob Borling and North Central College released the following press release about his death.

Legendary North Central College cross country and track & field coach Allen B. “Al” Carius has passed away at the age of 83 after a lengthy and courageous battle with cancer. Carius, whose career at North Central spanned more than five decades, will be remembered for his “Run for Fun and Personal Bests” coaching philosophy that influenced countless student-athletes, fellow coaches, friends and colleagues, and resulted in dozens of national championship trophies.

“The impact that Al Carius had during his more than half a century at North Central College cannot be overstated,” said North Central College President Abiodun Goke-Pariola. “While his success as a coach was unparalleled, it was never the trophies or recognition that motivated him. Al was a true believer in the NCAA Division III student-athlete experience and the role that athletics plays in helping young men and women develop the habits and skills they need to be successful in life. This is a difficult time for our Cardinal community as we mourn the loss of a campus icon, and yet we are forever grateful that Al’s legacy and commitment to students has become part of who we are and what we do at North Central College.”

A native of Morton, Ill., and a graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Carius arrived at North Central in 1966 to coach the College’s fledgling cross country and track programs. By the time of his retirement from head coaching duties in 2020, he became one of the most successful coaches in the country, regardless of sport or division. His cross country teams amassed 19 NCAA Division III national titles, 16 national runner-up finishes, and finished fourth place or better at 42 out of 47 NCAA Division III championship appearances – a record unmatched across all divisions. His athletes earned 127 All-America awards and eight individual national championships in cross country.

His record on the track was equally impressive. Whether as head coach or as an assistant alongside longtime friend and coaching partner Frank Gramarosso, Carius oversaw 12 NCAA Division III track & field team national championships – six outdoor and six indoor. Under his tutelage, Cardinal track & field athletes compiled 536 All-America awards and 63 individual and relay national championships.

“It’s easy to marvel at the long list of accolades when you reflect on Al’s coaching career,” said Jim Miller ’86, senior director of athletics at North Central College. “But that’s not what motivated Al. What got him out of bed in the morning was the opportunity to influence others through the teaching of life lessons and values that transcend sport. He had a unique ability to unite people around a shared vision of success and a commitment to one another – not to times, trophies or places. Across all of our athletics programs here at North Central, we will continue to honor Al’s legacy by always putting the athlete before the sport, and by using sport as a teacher of life’s great lessons.”

Carius was recognized by North Central College as an honorary alumnus in 2006 and presented with an honorary degree in 2016. In 2009, he was honored with the naming of the Al B. Carius Track when the College’s Residence Hall/Recreation Center opened. In addition to his coaching duties, Carius served as the College’s director of athletics from 1971-1977, again from 1980-1993. He was a passionate lecturer and educator, teaching courses in the health and physical education department and as part of the College’s Leadership, Ethics and Values (LEV) curriculum. Carius was selected by North Central’s student body to deliver the annual Last Lecture in 2013, and in 2024 he was the keynote speaker at the College’s Cardinal First Pinning Ceremony during Commencement Weekend, speaking to students – and their family members – who were among the first generation in their family to graduate from College, just as Carius himself had been.

Carius’ success made him a prominent national figure in cross country and track & field. In 2000, he was named “Coach of the Century” by his coaching peers. He was also named U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Cross Country Coach of the Year 12 times and National Track & Field Coach of the Year twice. In 2008, USTFCCCA established the Al Carius Program of the Year award given annually to the NCAA Division III men’s program with the best average team finish across the cross country, indoor, and outdoor track & field national championships. Carius then went on to win his namesake award four times (in 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, and 2017-18).

Carius was inducted into North Central College’s Athletics Hall of Fame as part of the inaugural class in 2004. He has also been inducted into the Illinois Track and Cross County Coaches Hall of Fame (1988), USTFCCCA Hall of Fame (2006), Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame (2013), Drake Relays Coaches Hall of Fame (2006), and the Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame (2012).

The Carius legacy will live on in his “Run for Fun and Personal Bests” coaching philosophy, which was the title of the book he wrote and published in 2021, and a documentary film produced by the College 2022. In his book, Carius describes “Run for Fun and Personal Bests” as a framework for success, not in terms of winning or losing, but by making success “accessible to every individual, founded on their voluntary choices each day to better themselves through self-growth…by reaching their personal goals, competing solely against themselves, with the support of their teammates.”

This simple yet profound motto served as a guiding light for Carius’ successful coaching career. The philosophy continues to influence hundreds of North Central College alumni who have gone on to successful coaching careers of their own.

In one of the final lines of his book, Carius wrote, “I’m so proud to have had so many young men and women pass through our North Central College athletic program and go on to spread our message of ‘Run for Fun and Personal Bests’ to other high school and college programs. I pray that I have set a good example for them for how to be a coach and a guide to the young people who are entrusted to their care.”