Lowell W. Spiess

Year Inducted: 2011

Lowell was born in Ohio, so he is a Buckeye import.   He coached track for 43 years and Cross Country for 27 years.  He first taught and coached at the Jefferson Jr. High from 1960-62 and then transferred to Port Huron High in the fall of 1962 where he coached football, basketball and track.

In 1971, Lowell accepted the position of Boys’ Varsity Cross Country and Track Coach at the newly formed Port Huron Central High School.   His Cougar Track record was 58-5 with 6 Dual Meet Championships, 2 City Meet Championships, 5 SCAL League Championships and 3 Regional Championships.   The 1972 team was 7th and the 1973 team was 4th at the State Finals.   His Cross Country tea record was 54-17 with 6 SCAL Dual and 5 League Meet Championships and 3 Regional Championships.

In the fall of 1980 he became the Boys’ Head Cross Country and Track Coach at Port Huron High.   His Cross Country team record was 79-96 with 1 Dual and 1 MAC Red League Meet Championship.  The Big Red Cross Country Team qualified for the State meet for the first time ever in 1995.   His Track Team record was 127-34 with 4 EML Championships, 2 MAC Red and 3 MAC White Championships.

Lowell was Conference Coach of the Year 23 times, Regional Coach of the Year 4 times and Times Herald Coach of the Year 7 times.   In 2002, the Port Huron Relays were renamed the “Lowell Spiess Relays”.  He was inducted into the Michigan High School Coaches Hall of Fame in 2003 and the Archbold, Ohio High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008.

Lowell retired from teaching in 1993 but continued to coach Track and Cross Country at Port Huron High School until the spring of 2002.   Presently, he is a registered Official for Track and Cross Country and also times and scores Cross Country meets and Road Races with his wife, Gwen.


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