Kruse named to HOF

Aldine Senior High School’s social studies department chairman and former track coach Sam Kruse was inducted into the Gulf Coast Scholastic Track Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame.

This recognition acknowledges Kruse’s achievements in 34 years of coaching student athletes. He is one of four coaches honored in 2002 and the only Aldine Independent School District coach in the Hall of Fame.

A plaque with Kruse’s name is on permanent display at the University of Houston’s Hall of Honor.

Coaching for 20 years at M. B. Smiley in the Houston School District, Kruse coached another 13 years at Aldine Senior. In his career, Kruse has coached 11 high-school All-American track athletes. In 1971 and 1972, his 440-yard relay teams ran state meet winning times of 40.8 and 40.9 seconds, respectively. The two times were also national bests at the time.

Also during Kruse’s career, he coached a 25-foot, 1 1/2 inch long jumper and a 7-foot, 1-inch high jumper. Kruse also had a 9.4 100-yard sprinter and 10.2 100-meter and 20.9 200-meter sprinters. He also coached a 57.4 400-meter shuttle hurdle relay team.

Kruse believed that his squads should have depth, and twice in his career coached six runners under two minutes in the 800-meter dash. Six of the freshmen high jumpers he coached at Aldine Senior were all able to clear six feet in the event.