Malone University cross country head coach Jack Hazen recently received the Stark County Coaches Association's Award of Distinction.

Hazen, who is currently in his 51st season of coaching distance running at Malone, was recognized for his outstanding career during a special ceremony on Monday at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

"I was truly honored to be recognized by the Stark County Coaches Association," commented Hazen.  "It was a very inspiring event honoring all of the sports in Stark County.  Being at a national sports shrine like the Pro Football Hall of Fame gave special meaning to our local coaching community."

Also earning the Award of Distinction on Monday was Ron Blackledge, whose football coaching career included head coaching positions at Canton South, Glenwood and Timken High Schools and assistant coaching positions in the National Football League with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Indianapolis Colts.  Ron's son, Todd Blackledge, accepted the award on his behalf.

Last year's Award of Distinction recipients were the University of Mount Union's Larry Kehres and NFL coach Josh McDaniels.

Hazen has led the Pioneers to a total of four men's cross country national titles and one women's cross country title.

During Malone's time in the NAIA, Hazen's men's squad qualified for the NAIA National Meet each and every year, never losing a conference/district meet while recording 35 Top-Ten NAIA National finishes.

The Pioneers' rich tradition of cross country success has continued throughout the institution's transition to NCAA Division II membership.  In the fall of 2015, the men's team placed 22nd at the Division II National Championship Meet.  In 2014, the women's team also became the first NCAA Division II program to claim the All-Ohio Championship.  This past fall, the Pioneer cross country teams each finished among the Top Seven at the Midwest Regional Championships.

Hazen also served as the head coach of Malone's men's track & field for 28 years and women's for three years. He has coached over 325 NAIA All-Americans in cross country and track & field, which represents over 80% of the NAIA All-Americans in all of Malone athletics history. 

On top of all his coaching achievements at Malone, Hazen has also had numerous international appointments.  He recently served as an assistant for the USA Track and Field Team during the 2012 London Olympic Games. Hazen was also named Head Manager for the 1999 Junior Pan American Track & Field Team and was twice named as U.S. Coach for men's cross country at the World Championships in Boston and Capetown, South Africa. He was also selected as the Assistant Coach for the U.S. World Championship meet in Helsinki, Finland in 2005.  Jack has coached two Olympians and served on the Track & Field Competition Management Team at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

In the spring of 2016, Hazen received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ohio Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches (OATCCC) for 100 total seasons of coaching service.  He was also recently elected to the USTFCCCA Coaches Hall of Fame, joining an incredible list of coaching legends from all levels of NCAA and NAIA competition.