The name Oscar Jensen is synonymous with cross country and track success in Syracuse. He has coached for more than 50 years splitting his time between Liverpool, Baldwinsville and Marcellus High Schools. His combined winning percentage for cross country, indoor and outdoor track exceeds 90 percent.

 

Jensen began his Liverpool High School coaching career in 1963 and amassed an incredible record of 207-99-1 in cross country with three Section III Championships and a 1991 state championship. In track, he posted an 804-500-19 record with eight Section III Championships with 14 league titles. He currently serves on the national rules committee for High School Track & Field.

 

Since the early 1980’s, Jensen has been active in the USATF, track’s national governing body. His experience as a physics and biology teacher, coach and power lifter made him a valuable staff member of USATF coaches certification schools, where he specialized in biomechanics and throwing events. He has served on a number of national, state and local committees.

 

He retired from Liverpool in 1996 after having coached six New York State Champions. Retirement lasted only two years as he began similar coaching duties at Baldwinsville. His coaching honors have been numerous and he has been a coach for USA Track and Field events many times since 1988 traveling around the world representing our country.

 

A 1960 graduate of Syracuse University, Jensen has been chairman of Section III boys indoor and outdoor track since 1970 and currently is the OHSL chairman for boys cross country, indoor and outdoor track. He was a mainstay of the Empire State Games scholastic and open track competition for 17 years.

 

His service to USATF led to a number of coaching staff positions including the 1994 World Championships in Lisbon, Portugal; the 1998 World Cup Championship in Johannesburg, South Africa and the 1999 World Youth Championship in Bydgoszcz, Poland.

 

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

 

1963-1991: Coached cross country and track at Liverpool High

 

1984: R eceived the Blind Men and Criers annual “John Arcaro Coaches Award” given to the high school coach for outstanding success in their sport

 

1991: Won cross country state championship

 

1993: Began coaching at Baldwinsville High

 

1996: Inducted into the Liverpool High Athletic Hall of Fame

 

2002: Received the National High School Athletic Coaches Association "National Coach of the Year" award in boys track and field

 

2003: Inducted into the Niagara Track and Field Hall of Fame. He also received the USATF's Coaching Lifetime Achievement award.