You won't see Mel Rosen jumping hurdles, sprinting the 100-yard dash or straining to conquer the high jump, but he's just as involved in track and field as any athlete on the roster.
Having recently celebrated his 83rd birthday March 24, Rosen, coach emeritus in his 19th year, is staying young through the hard work and commitment typically required of a loyal Auburn track and field consultant.
In a nutshell, he's a bookworm who admires tradition, meatloaf, Buddy Rich and perfectly enough, the movie "Chariots of Fire."
A Northern man, Rosen has established more than just roots in the Southern college town, but has cultivated lasting relationships with the fans, students, athletes and staff since his 1955 arrival.
"I was born in the Bronx," Rosen said. "I was raised in Brooklyn, went to school at the University of Iowa and settled in Alabama."
Before an opportunity brought him down to Auburn, Rosen coached as an assistant at UI for three years during the process of earning his education. Rosen also served two years in the Army at Fort Benning, Ga., where he spent up to six hours a day coaching track on base. Plainly, track was something he had always wanted to do.
"A job opened up to teach gymnastics," Rosen said. "I knew if I bought a book I could teach gymnastics, so I went out and bought one for $1.50."
In honor of his many personal achievements and devotion to the program, Auburn renamed its new track and field complex Hutsell-Rosen Track in 2006. In 1993, Rosen was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame and in 1995, was named into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame. In 2001, Rosen was also inducted into the U.S. Track Coaches Hall of Fame.
Despite his obvious success as a physical education teacher and legendary coach, Rosen isn't one to hog the spotlight, but simply loves what he does.
"Everybody in Auburn knows Coach Rosen," said Will Conwell, 28, a part-time employee at the track and field complex. "I've only been here a year, but everyone I talk to about track and field asks, 'Do you know Coach Rosen?' They'll say, 'He coached me,' or 'he coached my athlete,' or they'll just have a personal relationship with him. It's actually one of the things I love about this town. There's consistency here and there's life-long relationships and Coach Rosen is a proof to that. It's really been an honor for me to work with him in the same office."
Auburn's current head coach of men's and women's track and field has a similar opinion of his friend and professional supporter.
"Mel is the kind of person that you immediately take a liking to," Spry said. "He is a person who represents our sport well. He loves track and field--he does it because he loves it."
"When you think about Auburn track and field you don't think about Ralph Spry. Mel Rosen is the face for our sport. When you're talking about the Auburn man, you're describing Rosen to a 't.'"
"Here's a guy that bleeds burnt orange and navy. He goes to all the sporting events. He takes a lot of pride in Auburn, not just track and field. He's a true Auburn man, without question. If the term 'Auburn Man' were in the dictionary, you would probably have Mel Rosen's picture beside it. He's loves Auburn through and through."
Student-athlete, 22-year-old sophomore Joanna Atkins would be the first to agree that Rosen is a beloved part of Auburn's track and field program.
"He's very funny--just hilarious," Atkins said of Rosen. "He plays a big role in track and field. I always know I can go to him for any kind of advice or feedback I'm looking for. He's a very positive influence. [Without Rosen], the program would be empty."
Rosen and his wife, Joan, have two daughters, Laurie and Karen, and two grandchildren, Chelsea and Nathaniel.
Rosen plans to continue his work with the Auburn track team until time finally catches up with him, which doesn't seem likely anytime soon.
"When I find I'm not getting around too good, or if I'm bothering too many people then I may retire completely," Rosen said. "We'll see."
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