Piper's HOF Bio
2010 XC Schedule

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. - The annual home cross country meet held on the first week of Shippensburg's season has been re-named the "Galen E. Piper Alumni / Open Cross Country Challenge." This year's event will be held on Saturday, September 4 and Piper will be in attendance as the ceremonial starter.

Piper started both the women's cross country and track and field programs in 1979, the year of his graduation from Shippensburg, and guided both squads for 19 consecutive seasons.

Among his many accomplishments were the cross country squads from 1996-97 - Piper's final two seasons as head coach. The teams are among the best in SU history as both the 1996 and 1997 squads won the PSAC and NCAA Division II East Region championships.

The 1996 team had a 77-15-1 record against opponents and placed 11th at the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships while the 1997 team was 108-5 and finished sixth at the national championships. Neither the 1996 nor 1997 cross country teams lost to a non-Division I team until the NCAA championships.

Piper was named Coach of the Year by the ECAC, PSAC and East Region of Division II in both seasons. He continues to serve Shippensburg as its Director of Recreation, Intramurals, Club Sports and Facilities.