BU Athletics Mourns the Passing of Bruce Lehane
September 23, 2017 | General, Men's Cross Country, Men's Track & Field, Women's Cross Country, Women's Track & Field
BOSTON – Longtime Boston University head cross country coach and assistant director of track & field Bruce Lehane died on Saturday from ALS. He was 68.
Lehane, a 2017 inductee into the Boston University Athletic Hall of Fame, began his collegiate coaching career at Boston University in 1982 after spending five years teaching in the public schools in Maine. In his 35-plus years of service at Boston University, Lehane coached 50 All-Americans, two NCAA Division I national champions and two Olympians. In addition, the 1970 Boston State College graduate coached over 20 IC4A/ECAC individual champions. He also guided Rich Peters to a runner-up finish in the mile at the 2012 NCAA Championships.
"Bruce's passing is devastating to all of us who had the privilege to call him our coach or colleague," Director of Athletics Drew Marrochello said. "He is an icon in coaching and his long and distinguished career of accomplishments speaks for itself. And that said, his athletes – and there are hundreds if not thousands of them – absolutely revered Bruce because they knew he truly cared even more about their well-being and potential as people than he did about their running time. He was a terrific and beautiful person, and our entire BU community extends our sympathies to his wife, Lesley, their sons Blaize, Elliot and Aidan, and the rest of their family."
Nine of his athletes qualified for the World Cross Country Championships, which includes two-time U.S. National Champion Lesley Lehane, who placed fifth overall at the 1987 Cross-Country World Championships to help the United States squad to the team title.
Under Lehane's guidance, the Boston University men's cross country team has successfully qualified for the NCAA Championship field 10 times and posted three top-10 finishes. Most recently, individuals qualified for the NCAA Championship in 2012 and again in 2014 while at least one harrier has earned USTFCCCA All-Region honors in each of the last six years.
"Bruce was one of the smartest, kindest, and most sincere people I ever met," Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Robyne Johnson said. "He was a great friend and a great coach who will be missed by so many people. BU was lucky to have a coach like him who touched so many lives. We're going to miss him."
BU also excelled on the conference level under Lehane's tutelage. The women's cross country team has won 17 conference championships, including the 2013 and 2014 Patriot League titles. The men's cross country team has won 11 conference titles and took home its seventh New England Championship in 2015. Lehane was a 17-time America East Coach of the Year and two-time Patriot League Coach of the Year.
Boston University named its annual Scarlet and White Invitational after Lehane in February 2017. He was honored prior to the meet in a brief ceremony that included family, friends, alumni and current student-athletes.
A native of Boston and 1970 graduate of Boston State College, Lehane was a terrific collegiate athlete. He set school records in the 880m, 1,000m and mile events and was a two-time NAIA All-American. After earning his bachelor's degree in English and secondary education from Boston State, he went on to earn a master's degree in reading and language from UMass Lowell in 1977. Lehane co-authored a book with his coach at Boston State, Bill Squires, titled "Training Methods for Middle and Long Distance Runners."
Prior to his successful collegiate coaching career, Lehane mentored athletes at Austin Preparatory School from 1974-1977. His teams won two Class C state cross country titles during his tenure there. Lehane also coached girls' track & field at Sanford High School from 1977 until 1982.
Lehane's wake will take place on Saturday (Sept. 30) from 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. with a 5:00-5:30 p.m. prayer following. The address for the funeral home is:
RBTJLawler & Crosby Funeral Home
1803 CENTRE Street
West Roxbury, MA 02142
Per the family's request, in lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Boston University Friends of Track & Field and Cross Country, 285 Babcock Street, Boston, MA 02215. Please call 617-353-3008 with questions.
