Helmer Announces Plans to Retire After 2022-23 Season
4/5/2022 6:00:00 PM | Cross Country, Track and Field
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Four-time Big Ten Coach of the Year Ron Helmer announced today that he will retire from his role as the Director of Indiana Men's and Women's Track and Field and Cross Country at the conclusion of his contract, which runs through the 2022-23 season.
IU Athletics will soon begin formulating a succession plan to fill the position in advance of the 2023-24 season.
Helmer's retirement will bring an end to a coaching career that has spanned more than 50 years and is littered with national champions, Olympic gold medalists, and enormous team accomplishments.
"I've known for quite some time this day was on the horizon but that doesn't make the end of my career any easier to contemplate. For fifty-two years I've gone to work every day trying to figure out how to help someone get better, run faster, jump or throw higher or farther and that is coming to an end," said Helmer. "To see athletes totally invest in the process and ultimately accomplish things they only dreamed about or perhaps never contemplated has been the thrill that motivated me to continue totally investing myself in that process as well."
"The curse that goes with coaching to win is enough is never enough. While I've been fortunate to enjoy many successes at all levels, it is what I didn't do, goals I didn't accomplish, wins that narrowly escaped us, that will haunt me for some time. I'm incredibly thankful that I was wired in a way that allowed for this "never be satisfied" mindset because it is that which I found necessary to create the ability to move beyond the difficult times, always in search of the next win, the next great experience and there were many. I've learned so much about life, people and myself at every stop along the way and I'm truly grateful for the confidence shown me by some incredible individuals at each stop as well. This includes, but is not limited to, Scott Dolson and Fred Glass, athletic directors at Indiana University and Joe Lang who served in the same capacity at Georgetown University. They allowed me to be me and supported and appreciated the efforts I put into the successes of our athletes."
"I owe most to the athletes who accepted the coaching, accepted the challenges and made me look really good by lining up and competing with passion and determination equal to or greater than that which I invested in them. Finally, my family's support and willingness to allow me to try to do this at the highest level was and is the catalyst for fifty-two years of satisfying work. That is as true today as it was five decades ago and not to be taken for granted. Successful coaching careers don't happen without the entire family's buy in and personal investment and I have been the recipient of outstanding love and support from all. I look forward to fifteen more outstanding months on the job and the successes this time will bring."
Helmer is in the middle of his 15th season at Indiana University, where he has added significantly to the successes that legendary predecessors such as E.C. 'Billy' Hayes and Sam Bell enjoyed before Helmer's arrival. Since taking over the Indiana program in 2007, Helmer has mentored 52 individual Big Ten champions in cross country and track and field, his student-athletes have won six NCAA individual titles, and he's had 10 Big Ten Athlete of the Year honorees. He's also coached five teams that captured Big Ten Championships and another 11 that finished second in the conference.
Helmer has been recognized frequently by his peers for his coaching successes. In addition to his Big Ten Coach of the Year accolades, he's a six-time USTFCCA Regional Coach of the Year.
"Ron Helmer has left an indelible mark on our track and field and cross country programs, and he's had an enormous impact on the hundreds of student-athletes that he's mentored during the last 15 years," said IU Vice President and Director of Athletics Scott Dolson. "He leaves some very big shoes to fill. I appreciate everything that Ron and the Helmer family have given to Indiana University, and I'm happy for our student-athletes who still have 1 ½ years to learn from him."
Helmer's Hoosier products have not only succeeded on the Big Ten level, but the NCAA and Olympic levels as well. Among his proteges is five-time NCAA High Jump champion Derek Drouin. In addition to his successes for IU, Drouin also competed in the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics for Canada, earning gold in 2016 and a bronze in 2012. Other Hoosier track and field Olympians who were mentored by Helmer include Kelsie Ahbe (pole vault – 2012) and Olu Olamigoke (triple jump – 2012).
Among Helmer's other all-time greats is 2012 NCAA Outdoor 1,500-meter champion Andy Bayer, whose 10 All-America honors ranks second in IU Track and Field history to Jim Spivey's 12. In all, Helmer's Hoosier student-athletes placed in the top three in individual events at NCAA Championships 22 times, in the top five 40 times, and captured 221 All-America honors.
Before coming Indiana, Helmer served as the director and head coach of track and field and cross country at Georgetown University for eight years. Before being promoted to director in July 1999, Helmer served as associate head coach with the Hoyas for seven seasons and assistant coach the five years prior.
During his time with the Hoyas, 120 of his student-athletes earned a total of 342 All-America recognitions and 219 student-athletes captured BIG EAST individual titles. At the NCAA Championships, he guided 27 athletes or relay teams to a top-three finish, highlighted by four national champions - Joline Staeheli (mile, 1996), Miesha Marzell (1500m, 1996) and two distance medley relay champions (1997, 1999).
He saw his Georgetown teams earn 22 top-10 finishes in NCAA Championship action, including a streak of 15 straight at the cross-country championships. Among the top-10 finishes were seven top-four trophy finishes, including a third at the 1998 NCAA Indoor Championships and a fourth-place finish at the 2002 NCAA Cross Country Championships. He was part of 37 BIG EAST Championship teams as well.
Helmer was inducted into Georgetown's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2019.
A 1970 graduate of Southwestern College in Winfield, Kan., Helmer was a captain of his college track and field and cross country teams six times and helped the team capture four conference championships. After graduation, Helmer immediately got involved in the coaching profession, starting at the prep level. From 1970-86 he coached high school teams in Wellington, Kan.; Arkansas City, Kan.; Bristol, Va.; and Woodbridge, Va. Those high school teams combined to win 10 state championships and earn seven state runner-up team finishes. That level of success caught Georgetown's attention, and Helmer has spent the last 36 years coaching at the Division I level.
Helmer plans to enjoy retirement with his wife, Becky and his family. Helmer's family includes his children and grandchildren from his 38 year marriage to his late wife Mary as well as his three stepsons. They include daughter Tori Arther and her husband Jay (who works with the IU Track and Field program) and their children Rylee, Sydney and Brody; son Justin (Track and field and girl's cross country coach at Bloomington High School North), his wife Shannon and their daughter Hazel; and daughter Kari who is an IU graduate. His stepsons are Charlie Browning, married to Allie; and Bobby and Teddy Browning who ran for Helmer at Indiana.
IU Athletics will soon begin formulating a succession plan to fill the position in advance of the 2023-24 season.
Helmer's retirement will bring an end to a coaching career that has spanned more than 50 years and is littered with national champions, Olympic gold medalists, and enormous team accomplishments.
"I've known for quite some time this day was on the horizon but that doesn't make the end of my career any easier to contemplate. For fifty-two years I've gone to work every day trying to figure out how to help someone get better, run faster, jump or throw higher or farther and that is coming to an end," said Helmer. "To see athletes totally invest in the process and ultimately accomplish things they only dreamed about or perhaps never contemplated has been the thrill that motivated me to continue totally investing myself in that process as well."
"The curse that goes with coaching to win is enough is never enough. While I've been fortunate to enjoy many successes at all levels, it is what I didn't do, goals I didn't accomplish, wins that narrowly escaped us, that will haunt me for some time. I'm incredibly thankful that I was wired in a way that allowed for this "never be satisfied" mindset because it is that which I found necessary to create the ability to move beyond the difficult times, always in search of the next win, the next great experience and there were many. I've learned so much about life, people and myself at every stop along the way and I'm truly grateful for the confidence shown me by some incredible individuals at each stop as well. This includes, but is not limited to, Scott Dolson and Fred Glass, athletic directors at Indiana University and Joe Lang who served in the same capacity at Georgetown University. They allowed me to be me and supported and appreciated the efforts I put into the successes of our athletes."
"I owe most to the athletes who accepted the coaching, accepted the challenges and made me look really good by lining up and competing with passion and determination equal to or greater than that which I invested in them. Finally, my family's support and willingness to allow me to try to do this at the highest level was and is the catalyst for fifty-two years of satisfying work. That is as true today as it was five decades ago and not to be taken for granted. Successful coaching careers don't happen without the entire family's buy in and personal investment and I have been the recipient of outstanding love and support from all. I look forward to fifteen more outstanding months on the job and the successes this time will bring."
Helmer is in the middle of his 15th season at Indiana University, where he has added significantly to the successes that legendary predecessors such as E.C. 'Billy' Hayes and Sam Bell enjoyed before Helmer's arrival. Since taking over the Indiana program in 2007, Helmer has mentored 52 individual Big Ten champions in cross country and track and field, his student-athletes have won six NCAA individual titles, and he's had 10 Big Ten Athlete of the Year honorees. He's also coached five teams that captured Big Ten Championships and another 11 that finished second in the conference.
Helmer has been recognized frequently by his peers for his coaching successes. In addition to his Big Ten Coach of the Year accolades, he's a six-time USTFCCA Regional Coach of the Year.
"Ron Helmer has left an indelible mark on our track and field and cross country programs, and he's had an enormous impact on the hundreds of student-athletes that he's mentored during the last 15 years," said IU Vice President and Director of Athletics Scott Dolson. "He leaves some very big shoes to fill. I appreciate everything that Ron and the Helmer family have given to Indiana University, and I'm happy for our student-athletes who still have 1 ½ years to learn from him."
Helmer's Hoosier products have not only succeeded on the Big Ten level, but the NCAA and Olympic levels as well. Among his proteges is five-time NCAA High Jump champion Derek Drouin. In addition to his successes for IU, Drouin also competed in the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics for Canada, earning gold in 2016 and a bronze in 2012. Other Hoosier track and field Olympians who were mentored by Helmer include Kelsie Ahbe (pole vault – 2012) and Olu Olamigoke (triple jump – 2012).
Among Helmer's other all-time greats is 2012 NCAA Outdoor 1,500-meter champion Andy Bayer, whose 10 All-America honors ranks second in IU Track and Field history to Jim Spivey's 12. In all, Helmer's Hoosier student-athletes placed in the top three in individual events at NCAA Championships 22 times, in the top five 40 times, and captured 221 All-America honors.
Before coming Indiana, Helmer served as the director and head coach of track and field and cross country at Georgetown University for eight years. Before being promoted to director in July 1999, Helmer served as associate head coach with the Hoyas for seven seasons and assistant coach the five years prior.
During his time with the Hoyas, 120 of his student-athletes earned a total of 342 All-America recognitions and 219 student-athletes captured BIG EAST individual titles. At the NCAA Championships, he guided 27 athletes or relay teams to a top-three finish, highlighted by four national champions - Joline Staeheli (mile, 1996), Miesha Marzell (1500m, 1996) and two distance medley relay champions (1997, 1999).
He saw his Georgetown teams earn 22 top-10 finishes in NCAA Championship action, including a streak of 15 straight at the cross-country championships. Among the top-10 finishes were seven top-four trophy finishes, including a third at the 1998 NCAA Indoor Championships and a fourth-place finish at the 2002 NCAA Cross Country Championships. He was part of 37 BIG EAST Championship teams as well.
Helmer was inducted into Georgetown's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2019.
A 1970 graduate of Southwestern College in Winfield, Kan., Helmer was a captain of his college track and field and cross country teams six times and helped the team capture four conference championships. After graduation, Helmer immediately got involved in the coaching profession, starting at the prep level. From 1970-86 he coached high school teams in Wellington, Kan.; Arkansas City, Kan.; Bristol, Va.; and Woodbridge, Va. Those high school teams combined to win 10 state championships and earn seven state runner-up team finishes. That level of success caught Georgetown's attention, and Helmer has spent the last 36 years coaching at the Division I level.
Helmer plans to enjoy retirement with his wife, Becky and his family. Helmer's family includes his children and grandchildren from his 38 year marriage to his late wife Mary as well as his three stepsons. They include daughter Tori Arther and her husband Jay (who works with the IU Track and Field program) and their children Rylee, Sydney and Brody; son Justin (Track and field and girl's cross country coach at Bloomington High School North), his wife Shannon and their daughter Hazel; and daughter Kari who is an IU graduate. His stepsons are Charlie Browning, married to Allie; and Bobby and Teddy Browning who ran for Helmer at Indiana.
Players Mentioned
/ Cross Country
FB: Under the Hood with Indiana Football - Week 4 (Illinois)
Wednesday, September 17
FB: Kellan Wyatt Media Availability (9/16/25)
Tuesday, September 16
FB: Mikail Kamara Media Availability (9/16/25)
Tuesday, September 16
FB: Curt Cignetti Media Availability (9/15/25)
Monday, September 15