HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Longtime HutchCC track and field coach Pat Becher announced he will retire at the end of the current season.

Becher made the announcement during the weekly Blue Dragon press conference:

 

 

After 34 years, Becher says he is leaving at the right time. Becher says he was blessed to work with so many good coaches and staff at the college:

 

Becher hopes he can move closer to family and spend more time with his grandchildren who live out of state:

 

Under Becher’s tenure, the program compiled 25 individual national champions, 27 national runner-ups, more than 1,000 NJCAA All-Americans, and one Olympian in Steve Fritz. He won four Region VI championships (1996, 1997, 2012 and 2013). Most importantly, the program has touted 128 individual Academic All-Americans in the past 10 years.

Becher was named to the Quarterback Club Hall of Fame in 2014 and the NJCAA Track and Field Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2017.