Al Carius: 1942-2025

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Earlier today, North Central Athletics announced the passing of Coach Al Carius. The famed Division Three coach passed away at the age of 83 following a battle with cancer.

During his 50+ years at the helm of North Central's program, Carius was responsible for leading the Cardinals to unprecedented success. In doing so, he established an extended dynasty in which the NCC men were consistently the foremost blue-blood in Division Three.

Carius' tenure at North Central included 19 team cross country national titles between 1975 and 2018. No other men's Division Three program has won more than four.

Carius also coached eight individual cross country national champions and over 100 All-Americans. In 2009, the North Central men became the only team to have all seven runners earn All-American honors.

The unreal level of success by Carius earned him 12 USTFCCCA Coach of the Year awards and an induction into the USTFCCCA Coaches Hall of Fame in 2006.

North Central emphasizes that his influence extended beyond success on the grass and track, with President Abiodun Goke-Pariola noting that Carius, "was a true believer in the NCAA Division III student-athlete experience and the role that athletics plays in helping young men and women develop the habits and skills they need to be successful in life".