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Runk to IMLCA Hall of Fame

Men's Lacrosse

Legendary Head Coach Runk Named to IMLCA Hall of Fame

TOWSON, Md. -- After a legendary career leading the Towson University men's lacrosse program, former head coach Carl Runk will be enshrined in another Hall of Fame in December.

Runk will be inducted into the Intercollegiate Men's Lacrosse Coaches' Association (IMLCA) Hall of Fame during the Association's national convention on Friday, Dec. 7 at the Baltimore Waterfront Marriott.

A member of several local and regional Halls of Fame, including his induction into the Tigers' Hall of Fame in 2007, Runk was honored with the IMLCA Creator's Award in 2015.

Runk, who guided the Tigers to new heights beginning in 1968 when he took over as the fifth head coach in program history. The Baltimore native was at the helm of the program until 1998, seeing Towson through its transition from NCAA Division II into the Division I ranks in 1980.

While amassing an overall record of 262-161, Runk coached the Tigers to a College Division Championship in 1974, beating Hobart 18-17 in overtime, capping seven straight victories to end the season on top. Later, Runk guided the team to the 1991 NCAA Division I title game while earning a top-10 USILA Coaches Poll ranking. He is the only head coach to guide the same institution to College Division and Division I National Championship games.

"I just enjoyed talking to youngsters and playing a tight ball game, college or high school," Runk said about his Creator's Award three years ago. "The kids always expect some kind of strategy and I would tell them 'Remember this position, how you react is something you're going to remember forever. It's an important moment and not too many people will be in this position. Remember it.'"

The Towson University Athletics Hall of Famer is one of just 27 NCAA men's lacrosse coaches, regardless of division, to rack up over 250 wins, doing so at a .619 percent clip.

From 1980, Towson won five East Coast Conference championships, while earning NCAA Tournament Berths five times. Since moving to Division I, Towson finished ranked in the USILA Coaches Poll Top 20 on 12 occasions, including every season from 1989-1997.

After coaching at Towson, Runk went on to coach at nearby Hereford High School, guiding the Bulls to Maryland state championships in 2003 and 2008.
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