Northwest Missouri State Athletics

What can you say about a coach’s career that spanned across four different decades at one institution? For head cross country and track-and-field coach Richard Alsup, the list of accomplishments seems never-ending and the connections with student-athletes and staff are immeasurable.
 
The Bearcat athletic programs have a strong tradition of excellence on the regional and national stage and Coach Alsup was the architect of so many of these successes. He took over the reins of the cross country program in 1977 and after serving as an assistant, was named the leader of the track-and-field program in 1986. He would remain in those roles until the spring of 2008. Under his direction, the Bearcat track-and-field program produced five Division II national champions, 48 All-Americans, 47 individual and nine relay MIAA titles. His 1998 cross country team captured the Great Lakes Regional Championship. He coached 52 all-conference cross country performers and six times he was chosen as the MIAA Coach of the Year in either cross country or track-and-field.
 
He coached nine athletes who are currently in the M-Club Hall of Fame. In addition, two of his athletes received the MIAA’s prestigious Ken B. Jones Award as the overall top student-athlete in the conference. His influence is seen all over the Northwest record books. Upon his retirement, Alsup-coached athletes accounted for 48 of 57 Northwest Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field Records.
 
In addition to all the fine athletic performances, Coach Alsup’s teams and individuals had numerous academic accomplishments and his relationship with so many student-athletes over a 31-year career at Northwest is truly amazing.
 
Today, Coach Alsup resides right here in Maryville.