Stan Huntsman, a 1954 graduate of Wabash College, served as head track coach at Ohio University from 1957 to 1971 before coming to Tennessee. At Tennessee he led the track and field Vols to their first NCAA national title, in cross-country, in 1972. In 1974 UT won the national title in outdoor track and field—the first time a southern university had done so since 1933. As Tennessee coach from 1971 to 1985, his teams won 31 SEC championships. He left Tennessee for the University of Texas at Austin, where he continued his outstanding win record.
While at Tennessee he was named national coach of the year six times (cross-country—1972; outdoor track—1974, 1976, 1983; indoor track—1981, 1982). In his 39-year coaching career, he coached 41 individual national champions. He served as head track and field coach for the 1988 Olympics; assistant head coach for the 1976 and 1980 Olympics; and head coach for the 1983 world championships, 1977 world cup, and 2003 world championships. In 2004 he was inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame.