Legendary running coach Jack Daniels, who guided SUNY Cortland teams to more NCAA championships (eight) than any coach in the university's history, passed away Sept. 12, 2025. He was 92.

A world-renowned distance coach and exercise physiologist, Daniels produced 24 individual national champions and more than 90 All-America athletes in cross country and track and field at Cortland. He left an indelible mark on distance running globally, developing groundbreaking training advancements. Daniels at one point was named the "World's Best Coach" by Runner's World magazine.

The running website shared a feature about Daniels' impact across the sport following the news of his passing.

A 1997 C-Club Hall of Fame inductee, Daniels coached the Red Dragons' men's cross country teams for 17 seasons (1986-95, 1997-2001, 2003-04) and the women's cross country squads for 16 seasons (1987-95, 1997-2001, 2003-04). He also was Cortland's men's and women's track and field coach from 1987-91 and 1993-96, in addition to 1999-2000 for the men's team.

Daniels led Cortland women's cross country to seven national team titles (1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1997) as well as a runner-up showing in 1991. His women's teams finished in the top 10 nationally every year from 1987-99. He led the Red Dragons to 11 SUNYAC titles and his runners earned 41 All-America honors, including four individual national champions. He was honored as the NCAA Division III Women's Cross Country "Coach of the Century" for the 20th century.

On the men's side, Daniels' cross country teams made eight NCAA championship appearances, won seven SUNYAC titles and boasted five All-Americans. Cortland finished sixth nationally in both 1987 and 1991.

Additionally, Daniels guided Cortland's women's indoor track and field team to a national title in 1991.

Daniels joined SUNY Cortland's Physical Education Department faculty in 1986 and published his best-known book, Daniels' Running Formula, while at Cortland. The fourth edition of the text was published in 2021.

He graduated from the University of Montana in 1955 and earned a master's degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1965 and a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin in 1969. He was a two-time Olympic medalist in the modern pentathlon, winning the silver at Melbourne in 1956 and the bronze at Rome in 1960. He also coached track at the University of Texas and the University of New Hampshire and cross country at Oklahoma City University prior to his legendary Cortland career.

After his tenure at Cortland, Daniels served as head distance coach for Northern Arizona University's Center for High Altitude Training from 2005-09 and head cross country coach at Brevard College from 2010-12 and Wells College from 2013-19.

Daniels was inducted in the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2019. He also served on the editorial board of Runner's World and he coached several elite distance runners worldwide for many years.
 
Daniels is survived by his wife, Nancy, and two daughters: Audra and Sarah.

Update: A memorial service for Jack Daniels will take place Saturday, Sept. 20, at 2 p.m. at Grace Christian Fellowship, 1250 Fisher Avenue, Cortland. (corrected location).