Jan. 7, 2000

University of Missouri head track and field coach Rick McGuire will be inducted into the Drake Relays Hall of Fame. Drake Relays, known as America's Athletic Classic, is one of track and fields oldest and most prestigious events.

The induction will be held Thursday, April 27, 2000 in Des Moines, Iowa. McGuire becomes MU's fourth coach to receive the honor joining former Mizzou greats Tom Botts, Bob Simpson and Bob Teel. Botts was inducted in 1979 followed by Simpson in 1983 and Teel in 1994. Bob Simpson was also inducted into the Hall of Fame as an athlete along with Jackson Scholtz in 1961, Mel Gray in 1985 and Natasha Kaiser Brown in 1995.

Rick McGuire is perhaps one of the most highly respected collegiate track & field coaches in the country. In the 17 years since his arrival, 18 MU athletes have earned 56 All-American honors and 2 national collegiate records have been established. Three athletes have also claimed four NCAA national titles while Tiger athletes have also won 50 conference individual and relay championships. Lorinda Richardson and Natasha Kaiser Brown also claimed Big Eight Conference Athlete-of-the-Year honors under McGuire's direction.

During his distinguished career, McGuire has served on nine international teams. He was on the 1992 and 1996 U.S. Olympic staffs in Barcelona and Atlanta serving as the teams sports psychologists. He has also served as a sports psychologist for the 1995 World Championships in Gothenburg and the 1989 World Cup team that competed in Barcelona. McGuire also traveled with the U.S. junior national team to the 1986 World Championships in Athens, Greece before working at the 1987 dual meet with Cuba in Havanna and the 1988 World Championships in Sudbury, Ontario.

Nine of McGuire's athletes have earned U.S.A. team berths, including two-time Olympian and 1992 silver medalist Natasha Kaiser Brown. His latest international athletes are World University Games gold and bronze medalist Derrick Peterson and student-assistant Darin File who competed in the javelin throw.

He has chaired the USA Track and Field sport psychology program since its inception in 1983, and he is on the executive committee of the U.S. Track Coaches Association. McGuire is currently serving on the NCAA Track and Field Committee. In 1997 McGuire served as head referee for Drake Relays.