Legendary MSU Men’s Track and Cross Country coach Jim Bibbs passes away at age 97

EAST LANSING, Mich. (WLNS-TV) - Jim Bibbs, the first black head coach in Michigan State athletics history who coached 52 individual Big Ten Champions and 26 All-Americans in a 19-year run leading the MSU men's track and cross country programs, passed away on Saturday at the age of 97.

MSU athletics officially announced Bibbs' passing in a press release Sunday. He was a pioneer of Spartan athletics and remains the longest-tenured head coach in MSU track and field history.

He was also an elite athlete himself. He earned All-American honors at Eastern Michigan in 1951 and tied a then-world record time of 6.1 seconds in the 60-yard dash. The record holder he tied at the time was none other than the legendary Jesse Owens.

A native of Ecorse, Mich., Bibbs coached Ecorse High School for four years before joining the MSU coaching staff in 1968. He led Ecorse to a state championship in his final season at the helm.

Bibbs is a member of six different halls of fame, including the Michigan Amateur Athlete Hall of Fame (Class of 1974), Eastern Michigan Athletics Hall of Fame (Class of 1979), Greater Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame (Class of 2005), MSU Athletics Hall of Fame (Class of 2010), USTFCCCA Hall of Fame (2015), and the Detroit Public Schools Hall of Fame.

In the press release announcing his death, several MSU dignitaries offered their reflections on Bibbs' life and impact.

"Jim Bibbs is truly one of the icons of Spartan Athletics," wrote MSU men's basketball coach Tom Izzo. "He cared deeply about Michigan State University and even more passionately for the hundreds, if not thousands, of young men and women he impacted. His career is defined by its excellence, the barriers he broke, and the relationships he created.

"Coach Bibbs was one of the first people I met when I got to Michigan State, and as a young coach, I would walk up the stairs at Jenison many times each week for advice and perspective. The meaningful conversations we had still guide me today. He'll be remembered for his accomplishments with MSU Track & Field, but his impact and wisdom were felt throughout the entire department.

"Thirty-plus years after his retirement, he remained loyal to our University and an active supporter of MSU Athletics. My thoughts are with his family, friends and all the Spartans whose lives he enriched."

MSU Vice President and Director of Athletics Dan Bartholomae added "The thoughts and prayers of Michigan State Athletics are with the family and loved ones of Coach Jim Bibbs. I was fortunate to meet and speak with Coach Bibbs, and I was struck by the love and care he had for Michigan State, Spartan Athletics and the people within. The championships, the All-Americans, the records, they all speak for themselves. He was a game changer and his coaching and mentorship had a transformational impact on the lives of countless Spartans. He embodied the very best of what it means to be a Spartan."