BUFFALO, NY - One of the most successful coaches in University at Buffalo athletic history is stepping down.

Dick Barry, men's and women's track and field and cross country coach, has announced his retirement effective at the end of the current spring season.

Dick Barry

Since arriving on campus in 1985, Barry has been instrumental in building UB's teams from a Division III program to a quality Division I program during his tenure. Along the way, his cross country teams won 13 conference championships while his track and field teams have won four conference crowns and he has been selected as a Conference Coach of the Year five times. His teams have also produced 10 All-Americans. During his tenure, his UB cross country and track and field teams have combined for an overall record of 664-261-1.

"Coach Barry has represented the University at Buffalo in a first-class manner throughout his tenure," said Director of Athletics Bob Arkeilpane. "He is respected on the local, regional and national levels in the track and field community and has been instrumental in not only raising the bar on the programs he has coached, but also in bringing tremendous track and field competition to Buffalo."

Barry served as the Sport Chairman for the World University Games held at UB in July of 1993, the Director of Competition for the World Master's Track and Field, Cross Country, and Marathon Championships in July of 1995, and the Meet Director for the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships held at UB Stadium in 1998, the proudest achievement of his professional career. Additionally, Barry has been an administrator and clinician with the U.S. Olympic Committee, serving as the Eastern Region Coordinator for the heptathlon and also as head clinician at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid, NY, where he specialized in the multi events from 1981-86.

With UB moving into the Mid-American Conference four years ago, Barry's squads have achieved several highlights. Among those are weight thrower Sarah Fletcher (Ridgeway, Ontario/Ridgeway-Crystal Beach) winning three MAC titles (two indoor, one outdoor) and becoming the first UB champion at the prestigious Penn Relays in the spring of 2000, distance runner Jerimie Slick (Greece, NY/Greece-Olympia) becoming the first UB cross country athlete to compete at the NCAA Division I Championships in over 30 years last fall, triple jumper Kamau Halim winning two consecutive MAC outdoor titles and high jumper Shelly Hamilton earning UB's first Division I All-American award at the 1998 NCAA Championships at UB Stadium.

He received his bachelor's degree in Business Administration ('66), as well as his master's degree in Business Education ('68) from the University at Buffalo. He and his wife Marcia are the parents of three and grandparents of six. A 1955 graduate of Buffalo's Father Baker High School, Barry is a member of both the Williamsville East Coaches and Williamsville North Teachers Halls of Fame.

Barry's final home meet as head coach will be at the UB Open this weekend at UB Stadium.