Eastern Michigan Athletics
Gary Bastien Named EMU Assistant Men's Track and Field Coach
9/2/2011 10:35:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
Former track and field great was inducted into EMU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1989
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Gary Bastien (bas-STEEN), a former Eastern Michigan University track and field All-American and international standout decathlete, has been named assistant men's track and field coach at EMU, Head Coach John Goodridge announced today (Aug. 30).
"One is hard pressed to name an individual who has been more involved and supportive of EMU Track and Field than Gary Bastien," said coach Goodridge. "Gary's membership in the EMU Athletic Hall of Fame speaks to his special athletic accomplishments but he has also supported this program as a former Track and Field Alumni Club officer, track meet official, volunteer coach and assistant coach who has coached two university record holders."
Bastien joins the EMU men's track and field staff full time after recently serving as a part-time throws coach for the Eagles from 2006-09. From 1985-92 he was a volunteer coach for the EMU men's track and field team and assisted decathlete Morris Ellis in breaking Bastien's conference and varsity records in the decathlon.
Upon returning to the EMU staff from 2006-09, Bastien coached both Dave Adamek and Gerald Gersham to NCAA national championship qualifying berths and top 15 rankings, including top five finishes in the NCAA regional championships.
In all, Bastien has eight seasons of Division I coaching experience, including two years under U.S. Olympic Team Coach Mel Rosen and four years under EMU's legendary Head Coach Bob Parks.
A 1981 graduate of EMU, Bastien enjoyed an outstanding career as a decathlete on the collegiate as well as the international stage. He was a four-time Mid-American Conference decathlon champion as well as winning the U.S. junior national title, and was a four-time NCAA Division I qualifier who captured All-American honors in 1979 and 1980.
After his collegiate career was completed at the 1983 TAC (now USAF) national championships, Bastien posted the third-highest and American decathlon mark and a top 20 world ranking. That performance qualified him for the U.S. Pan-American Games squad and gave him the distinction of being one of only six EMU track men to be ranked in the top three in the U.S. in their event.
After retiring from competition, Bastien spent 23 years in the advertising business while assisting the EMU men's team as well as the Saline Hershey youth track teams. Bastien was inducted into the EMU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1989.
The 52-year-old Bastien (6-16-59) is a native of Grand Rapids, Mich. and graduated from Grandville High School in 1977. He and his wife, Kathy Lux, an EMU alumnus, have two children, Sarah (23) and Steven (17).
"One is hard pressed to name an individual who has been more involved and supportive of EMU Track and Field than Gary Bastien," said coach Goodridge. "Gary's membership in the EMU Athletic Hall of Fame speaks to his special athletic accomplishments but he has also supported this program as a former Track and Field Alumni Club officer, track meet official, volunteer coach and assistant coach who has coached two university record holders."
Bastien joins the EMU men's track and field staff full time after recently serving as a part-time throws coach for the Eagles from 2006-09. From 1985-92 he was a volunteer coach for the EMU men's track and field team and assisted decathlete Morris Ellis in breaking Bastien's conference and varsity records in the decathlon.
Upon returning to the EMU staff from 2006-09, Bastien coached both Dave Adamek and Gerald Gersham to NCAA national championship qualifying berths and top 15 rankings, including top five finishes in the NCAA regional championships.
In all, Bastien has eight seasons of Division I coaching experience, including two years under U.S. Olympic Team Coach Mel Rosen and four years under EMU's legendary Head Coach Bob Parks.
A 1981 graduate of EMU, Bastien enjoyed an outstanding career as a decathlete on the collegiate as well as the international stage. He was a four-time Mid-American Conference decathlon champion as well as winning the U.S. junior national title, and was a four-time NCAA Division I qualifier who captured All-American honors in 1979 and 1980.
After his collegiate career was completed at the 1983 TAC (now USAF) national championships, Bastien posted the third-highest and American decathlon mark and a top 20 world ranking. That performance qualified him for the U.S. Pan-American Games squad and gave him the distinction of being one of only six EMU track men to be ranked in the top three in the U.S. in their event.
After retiring from competition, Bastien spent 23 years in the advertising business while assisting the EMU men's team as well as the Saline Hershey youth track teams. Bastien was inducted into the EMU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1989.
The 52-year-old Bastien (6-16-59) is a native of Grand Rapids, Mich. and graduated from Grandville High School in 1977. He and his wife, Kathy Lux, an EMU alumnus, have two children, Sarah (23) and Steven (17).
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