Another living legend from the annals of Traverse City athletics is getting their due, thanks to a motion passed by the Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) board this week.

Board trustees voted unanimously at their Monday meeting to rename the track and field facilities at Traverse City Central High School after longtime coach John Lober. Lober was Central’s head track coach for more than half a century, until 2021 when he formally retired. Despite stepping down, Lober remains involved with the program five years later.

For years, TCAPS refrained from naming district buildings or facilities after people, particularly those who were still alive. The district broke that precedent last summer, designating the tennis facilities at Central High School as the Larry Nykerk Trojan Tennis Center. Nykerk had coached tennis at Central from 1968 until 2017, with stints leading both the boys and girls teams.

“I understand TCAPS has a policy not to name facilities for individuals except in extraordinary circumstances, such as when an individual has made unique and lasting contributions to the school system,” acting Traverse City Track Club Executive Director Jason Whittaker wrote in a letter to the TCAPS board. “Many in the Traverse City community believe John Lober represents such a rare and exceptional case.”

Whittaker, himself an alumnus of the Central track program, went on to highlight Lober’s many accomplishments, including 27 undefeated seasons as Central's track coach, a Class A state championship victory in 1992, a 347-33-3 dual meet record, “the development of numerous All State and nationally competitive athletes,” coach of the year honors from the National Federation of State High School Associations and the National High School Athletic Coaches Association, and induction into the National High School Coaches Hall of Fame.

“More important than statistics is the culture he created,” Whittaker continued. “Coach Lober built a program defined by discipline, opportunity, and long-term development. Generations of students benefited not only as athletes, but as individuals shaped by his leadership and example.”

During public comment, Eric Houghton – a former TC Central track standout, and a current assistant coach for the program – praised Lober for his “positivity” and “inclusiveness” as a coach.

“He wanted over 100 guys on the track team every year,” Houghton said. “Fast, slow, big, small – didn’t care, he just wanted people out. And he encouraged us. Whether you won the race, set a personal best, dropped a baton, lost the race; it didn’t matter. He was always there and always positive for us. He’s known throughout the state and the Midwest as a legendary coach, and there’s no better way we could honor him than by naming the track after him.”

In introducing the topic for board discussion, TCAPS Superintendent John VanWagoner said “there are some names that you hear with Traverse City” and that Lober’s is near the top of the list. “I can promise you that there’s nobody more respected in the track community in the state of Michigan – and renowned across all of the nation in track and field – than John Lober,” he said.

Trustees agreed with VanWagoner’s assessment. Ty Schmidt called Lober an “extraordinary individual” and praised his impact on countless student-athletes over the years, while Beth Pack highlighted Lober’s status as a role model. “I think the more you support identifying people who should be mentors for the way you’d like students to approach life, this is a good opportunity to do that,” Pack said.

Trustees ultimately voted unanimously to rename the track facility as the “John Lober Track and Field Stadium.” The Traverse City Track Club will cover all expenses “for any kind of signage and memorial,” VanWagoner noted. The Track Club uses the track for some of its events – particularly the annual Bayshore Marathon, which will mark its 44th annual race there next weekend.

Lober, who was present for the meeting Monday, spoke about getting cut from his high school basketball team in ninth grade, and how he then made a point throughout his coaching career of recruiting high school athletes who were in similar situations.

“I found that once I could coach them, that it changed their live,” he said. “Why track and field? Nobody gets cut.”