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For over 30 years, Ed Hauck has stood at the finish line of various track and field and cross country races in Long Beach, cheering on runners.
When the first semester concludes in January, the longtime Wilson track and field and cross country coach will cross his own finish line and enter retirement.
“I was originally thinking of calling it (retiring) in 2020 and then the pandemic hit,” Hauck said. “I didn’t want to leave it that way, both for athletics and academics and didn’t want to bail on the kids.”
Hauck started teaching English at Wilson in 1987. He was the school’s track and field coach for 35 years and cross country for 29 years (mainly as the girl’s head coach). Under his guidance, the Bruins won seven CIF championships and 29 league titles, both individual and team winners.
“I still love what I am doing but I didn’t want to get to the point where, ‘God I hate it,’” Hauck said.
While Hauck is retiring, he still will be involved with the Long Beach running community as he plans to help with the middle school meets, Long Beach Relays, and Moore League Meetsl.
However, he won’t be, “Doing any coaching unless someone else is in need.”
Long Beach Poly cross country coach Cameron Ford said he loved how involved Hauck was in the running community.
“He was always about providing what’s best for the kids while still keeping a standard for competitiveness at a safe and healthy level,” Ford said.
Hauck coached future NCAA All-Americans and Olympians and took the Bruins to multiple state meets, but said it was hard to find one moment that stuck out.
“I’ve been to the mountain top of the state meet and those experiences are great,” Hauck said. “You have a different set of runners every year and you get to see the evolution of girls from freshman to senior year.”
His final season as the girls cross country coach saw the team advance to the CIF Prelims.
“I enjoyed it from day one (to final year),” Hauck said. “I didn’t put any special meaning in it and didn’t want to have a build up or let down… The kids ran well and did what we expected and couldn’t ask for more.”
A retirement party is scheduled for January.
While one Hauck is leaving the Wilson coaching staff, another is joining.
Bobby Hauck, Ed’s son, who ran four years of cross country and track under his dad, said he has stepped down as the Wilson football equipment manager to join the cross country staff.
“I wanted to continue the Hauck legacy,” Bobby said. “I think my dad would be excited for me to continue in his footsteps as an assistant coach where I graduated from.”
