Temple University Athletics
Temple Mourns Passing of Longtime Track and Field Coach Charles Alexander
3.23.21 | General, Women's Track and Field
Temple University mourns the passing of Charles 'Cake' 'Chuck' Alexander, the Owls' longtime track and field coach, who passed away on March 19, 2021 in Fisherville, Va. He was 91.
Mr. Alexander was born on January 1st, 1930 in Lexington, Va. and as a youth moved to Elkins Park, Pa. graduating from Cheltenham High School in 1951. At CHS he was a talented athlete participating in football, basketball, wrestling, baseball and track & field. He earned all-state honors at Millersville State College in football, basketball and track and graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1955. After earning his degree, he served in the United States Air Force during peacetime, joining just after the Korean War.
After transitioning from military service, Mr. Alexander returned to Philadelphia and began teaching history in the Philadelphia Public School District. During 1958, Mr. Alexander founded the LaMott Track Club. Many Junior Olympic champions came from his track club, where he cultivated an enthusiastic love of running within the hearts, minds and muscles of age groupers. Through the years, he encountered a few coaches with whom he shared a common passion and philosophy, evolving life-long bonds of friendship through collaboration and learning; together, they contributed to regional development of the sport and strengthened track & field in the greater Philadelphia area.
During 1977, Mr. Alexander accepted the opportunity to serve as head track & field coach at Temple University where he broadened his ability to provide opportunities for young women and men to pursue their potential as student-athletes at the Division I level. As a coach, he encouraged young people to: maintain their commitments, amplify their work ethic, embrace the fear of failure, and to train with tenacity. Ultimately, Coach Alexander wanted his student-athletes to capitalize on every opportunity to improve themselves so they could graduate with an enriched confidence as young adults.
Through the success of his student-athletes and support of his trusted coaches, Mr. Alexander, gained recognition from his peers in the U.S. track & field community as he was awarded: Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Region II, Track Coach of the Year (1987); and appointed to coach multiple Olympic Sports Festival Teams as well as coach of the Junior Pan Am Team (1991). During those 22 years, the Temple University Track & Field teams rose to national prominence through the training, talent and hard work of: 15 All-Americans, four Olympic Trial qualifiers and the teammates who trained and competed alongside each other through their four years as Temple Owls under the committed, impassioned guidance of Mr. Alexander and the coaches with whom he was able to share this chapter of his life.
After leaving Temple and having retired as a public school teacher during 1996, Mr. Alexander eventually returned to coaching, joining as a volunteer assistant with the University of Pennsylvania and La Salle University, then returned to his childhood hometown of Lexington to conclude his coaching career at Washington & Lee University in 2009.
Charles Kenneth Alexander is survived by his wife, Gwen; children: Kelly, Dallas and Brandilyn; son-in-law Ryan Kist; as well as grandsons Charles Joseph and Daniel Walter.
A service for the family will be Saturday, March 27th in Lexington, VA. Saturday's funeral will be streamed live on the First Baptist Church of Lexington, VA Facebook page beginning at 11 am. Once on the site click on 'Movies' then 'Videos'.
The family will plan a Philadelphia memorial celebration for friends this spring.
Mr. Alexander was born on January 1st, 1930 in Lexington, Va. and as a youth moved to Elkins Park, Pa. graduating from Cheltenham High School in 1951. At CHS he was a talented athlete participating in football, basketball, wrestling, baseball and track & field. He earned all-state honors at Millersville State College in football, basketball and track and graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1955. After earning his degree, he served in the United States Air Force during peacetime, joining just after the Korean War.
After transitioning from military service, Mr. Alexander returned to Philadelphia and began teaching history in the Philadelphia Public School District. During 1958, Mr. Alexander founded the LaMott Track Club. Many Junior Olympic champions came from his track club, where he cultivated an enthusiastic love of running within the hearts, minds and muscles of age groupers. Through the years, he encountered a few coaches with whom he shared a common passion and philosophy, evolving life-long bonds of friendship through collaboration and learning; together, they contributed to regional development of the sport and strengthened track & field in the greater Philadelphia area.
During 1977, Mr. Alexander accepted the opportunity to serve as head track & field coach at Temple University where he broadened his ability to provide opportunities for young women and men to pursue their potential as student-athletes at the Division I level. As a coach, he encouraged young people to: maintain their commitments, amplify their work ethic, embrace the fear of failure, and to train with tenacity. Ultimately, Coach Alexander wanted his student-athletes to capitalize on every opportunity to improve themselves so they could graduate with an enriched confidence as young adults.
Through the success of his student-athletes and support of his trusted coaches, Mr. Alexander, gained recognition from his peers in the U.S. track & field community as he was awarded: Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Region II, Track Coach of the Year (1987); and appointed to coach multiple Olympic Sports Festival Teams as well as coach of the Junior Pan Am Team (1991). During those 22 years, the Temple University Track & Field teams rose to national prominence through the training, talent and hard work of: 15 All-Americans, four Olympic Trial qualifiers and the teammates who trained and competed alongside each other through their four years as Temple Owls under the committed, impassioned guidance of Mr. Alexander and the coaches with whom he was able to share this chapter of his life.
After leaving Temple and having retired as a public school teacher during 1996, Mr. Alexander eventually returned to coaching, joining as a volunteer assistant with the University of Pennsylvania and La Salle University, then returned to his childhood hometown of Lexington to conclude his coaching career at Washington & Lee University in 2009.
Charles Kenneth Alexander is survived by his wife, Gwen; children: Kelly, Dallas and Brandilyn; son-in-law Ryan Kist; as well as grandsons Charles Joseph and Daniel Walter.
A service for the family will be Saturday, March 27th in Lexington, VA. Saturday's funeral will be streamed live on the First Baptist Church of Lexington, VA Facebook page beginning at 11 am. Once on the site click on 'Movies' then 'Videos'.
The family will plan a Philadelphia memorial celebration for friends this spring.
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