JOHN CHASTAIN

John Chastain was the head coach for the Seymour High School cross country and track teams for a total of 58 seasons. His teams won a total of 17 sectional championships. That is more sectional titles than any other coach in Seymour sports history.

John was the cross country coach for 31 years. He coached the Owls to one South Central Conference title, 11 sectional championships, four regional titles and two appearances in the state meet. His 1978 team finished 8th in the state. He also coached three individual conference champions, three individual sectional champions and two All-State runners….Paul Risch and Jordan Fife.

John was the Owls’ track coach for 27 seasons. He took the head coaching job after serving as an assistant coach for nine seasons under head coaches Dick Mace, Joe Suminski and Bill Lasater. As the varsity coach, his teams won six sectional championships and one regional title. His 1977 team finished fourth in the state track meet. He had multiple individuals win sectional and regional titles and had 30 individuals and several relay teams qualify for the state track meet. He had one individual state champion, Jay Thomas, who won the long jump in 1978. John served as an assistant coach for the 1978 Indiana team at the Midwest Meet of Champions.

In 2005, John was inducted into the Indiana Association of Track & Cross Country Coaches Hall of Fame in Terre Haute.

John taught at Seymour High School for 31 years and remained as coach of the Owls’ track and cross country teams for six years following his retirement.