Ken Willems

KEN WILLEMS, Northridge High School (Coach)

Ken W. served as head coach as the Northridge cross‑country program developed into a state power. Ken served as coach of girls and boys cross-country. Girls’ record 136-11; boys’ 80-56. Girls won 8 consecutive NLC Titles, 7 consecutive Sectionals, 5 consecutive Semi-states, and 6 consecutive appearances at the State Finals, finishing 4th, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, and 13th. The girls at one time had 112 consecutive wins over local teams in 9 years. The boys teams won 4 consecutive NLC Titles, 1 Sectional, and a 4th place finish at the State Finals the year girls finished third. Ken served as track coach also. He was honored as the Ind. Assoc. of Track & Cross-Country Coaches “Coach of the Year” three years, Indiana Girls Athletic Assoc. “Coach of the Year” 4 years, and as NLC “Coach of the Year,” eight times. One of Ken’s highlights, in addition to the enviable record accomplished while leading the Raiders, was “coaching with Ken Von Gunten.” Another highlight is that two of his former runners are coaching the cross-country teams at Northridge, where the success continues.