Former Southeast Missouri State track coach to be inducted into Drake Relays HOF

The Southeast Missouri State track and field program will get a look into its storied past when it travels to the prestigious Drake Relays.

Former Southeast coach Joey Haines will be among four inductees into the Drake Relays Hall of Fame this weekend. This year marks the 103rd edition of the Drake Relays.

Haines spent 26 years building Southeast into a perennial power before retiring in 2008. He led the Redhawks to 44 team conference titles, including 17 Ohio Valley Conference crowns.

"It's a tremendous honor for me personally. But it all goes back to the athletes we've had, all of whom competed at such a high level," Haines said. "I go back a long ways to the Drake Relays. I competed there in the javelin back in 1969. I took my first team there as a coach in 1976. When I came to Southeast, we went nearly every year. We had some outstanding days at this meet.

"One of my favorite memories there came in 1984. We won the 4x100, 4x200 and 4x400 relays along with the sprint medley relays, which was probably the highlight of our experience there. It was a significant accomplishment to win four sprint relays there."

Haines led Southeast to 18 top-four team finishes at the NCAA Division II Championships and won a national title in indoor track in 1984 and another in cross country in 1985.

Haines coached 24 national champions and 154 All-Americans. He was named OVC coach of the year 20 times.

Haines also was named the 1985 NCAA Division II men's coach of the year and the 1998 NCAA Division I women's regional coach of the year.

The Drake Relays marks the fourth hall of fame to induct Haines. He entered the OVC Hall of Fame in 2009, the Southeast Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Missouri Track and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2002.