James "Jumbo" Elliott

Track and Field

Local, Villanova University

Area native from Philadelphia

Competed in the 220yd, 440yd, and 880yd events for Villanova University Track (1931-35)

Head Coach of Villanova Men’s Track and Field (1949-81)

His athletes won 316 IC4A titles, 82 NCAA crowns, and 62 National AAU championships

They would also set 22 outdoor world records and 44 indoor world records

Coached Villanova to 3 Men’s National AAU Championships

• Cross Country (1968)
• Indoor Track and Field (1957)
• Outdoor Track and Field (1957)

Coached Villanova to 41 IC4A Men’s titles

• Cross Country (1962, 1966-71, 1978-80)
• Indoor Track and Field (1957-58, 1960, 1962-65, 1967-71, 1974, 1977-80)
• Outdoor Track and Field (1957-58, 1960-64, 1967-68, 1970-72, 1978-79)

Led Villanova to 8 NCAA Men’s Division I Championships

• Cross Country (1966-68, 1970)
• Indoor Track and Field (1968, 1971, 1979)
• Outdoor Track and Field (1957)

Produced 28 Olympians, five of whom won Olympic gold

• Ron Delany in the 1500m (1956)
• Charles Jenkins in the 400m (1956)
• Don Bragg in the pole vault (1960)
• Paul Drayton in the 4 x 100m relay (1964)
• Larry James in the 4 x 400m relay (1968)

John Wanamaker Award recipient (1969)

Inducted into the U.S. Track and Field Hall of Fame (1981)