Denny (Dennis) Myers was a distinguished athlete and coach whose lifelong dedication to cross country and track & field left a lasting impact on Grand Ledge, Lansing, and the broader athletics community.  Myers graduated from Grand Ledge High School in 1976, where he was a standout in both cross country and track & field. He was a member of the 1974 Regional Championship Cross Country team coached by fellow Hall of Fame inductee Carl Chapman. He continued his education and athletic pursuits at Siena Heights College and Lansing Community College, building a foundation that would shape his future coaching career.

After completing his studies, Myers began coaching at Lansing Community College in 1979, where he would spend over two decades transforming the cross country and track & field programs into national powerhouses. Under his guidance, the men’s cross country team won six NJCAA National Championships (1991, 1992, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999), while the women’s team claimed four national titles (1991, 1992, 1994, 1995). His teams also excelled in road racing, securing men’s team marathon national championships in 1989 and 1992 and women’s team marathon national championships in 1990, 1991, and 1994. Individually, his athletes earned men’s cross country NJCAA national champion honors in 1999 and women’s national champion titles in 1991 and 1992, with men’s marathon champions crowned under his direction in 1985 and 1992.

After more than 20 years at Lansing, Myers continued his career at Vincennes for three years then spent an impactful year at Rend Lake where he won the 2008 NJCAA Women's Indoor Track and Field National Championship. Perhaps most memorable from his career is Myers' time at the helm of Iowa Central when he took over as head coach in 2009. With the Tritons, Myers collected five men's indoor track and field national titles and four women's indoor track and field national titles. In addition, he guided the women to two outdoor track and field national titles, most recently in 2016. 

Myers’ influence extended beyond championships. He was instrumental in developing the road racing circuit in the Lansing region and was highly respected as an elite distance runner himself. His leadership and mentorship inspired generations of athletes, fostering discipline, dedication, and a love for the sport.

In recognition of his extraordinary contributions, Myers was inducted into the Greater Lansing Sports Hall of Fame in 2019; the NJCAA Cross Country, Track and Field, and Half Marathon Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2020; and the Siena Heights College Hall of Fame, his alma mater. These honors reflect his exceptional career and the lasting legacy he left on both the local and national levels of collegiate athletics. Outside of coaching, Myers was president of the NJCAA Cross Country Coaches Association from 1987-2009 and a US Track Coaches Association Representative from 1993-2003.

Myers' impact and success as a coaching icon in the track and field and cross country community for almost forty years is a direct result of his dedication to the association, his student-athletes, and his coaches. 

Coach Myers tragically passed away suddenly in 2018 at the age of 60 leaving behind a lasting legacy in the sport of Cross Country.

Further Links:  LSJ Tribute , Lansing Sports Hall of Fame - 2019 , Lansing Community College Press Release , Coaching Bio from Iowa Central CC , Iowa Central CC Press Release