University Southern California Trojans
Former USC Pole Vaulter & U.S. Indoor Record Holder Hein Jr. Passes Away
July 09, 2020 | Track & Field, Features
He was a member of two USC NCAA T&F championship teams
Former USC pole vaulter and world indoor record-holder Mel Hein Jr., 79, died of a brain infection in Reno, Nev. on July 8. Â
The three-time letter-winner was a member of USC's 1961 and 1963 NCAA outdoor national championship teams. Hein Jr. placed fifth in the pole vault at the 1962 NCAA Championships and took sixth in 1963, helping the Trojans to the team title.
Hein Jr. set the U.S. indoor pole vault record with a mark of 16-5.75 at the Golden Gate Invitational in San Francisco, Calif. on Feb. 27, 1965.
Hein served as a junior high physical education teacher for many years, then in 1986 he began coaching track and cross country at Taft HS in Woodland Hills, Calif. He led Taft HS girl's team to two City Section team titles and the boy's team to one. In 1986 as an assistant coach for track, he helped lead Taft HS to the state title behind future 400m Olympic champion, USC record-holder and current USC assistant coach Quincy Watts.
Hein Jr.'s son Curtis played football at USC in the late 1980s. Another son, Gary, was on the U.S. National Rugby team. Another son, Cody, was the women's volleyball coach at Chico State and Florida Institute of Technology, and passed away in January. His father Mel Hein Sr. played center collegiately at Washington State and in the NFL for the N.Y. Giants, being elected to both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame. He also served as a USC football assistant coach from 1951-65.
Hein Jr. is survived by his wife Judy, sons Gary and Curtis and nine grandchildren. No funeral service is planned because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The three-time letter-winner was a member of USC's 1961 and 1963 NCAA outdoor national championship teams. Hein Jr. placed fifth in the pole vault at the 1962 NCAA Championships and took sixth in 1963, helping the Trojans to the team title.
Hein Jr. set the U.S. indoor pole vault record with a mark of 16-5.75 at the Golden Gate Invitational in San Francisco, Calif. on Feb. 27, 1965.
Hein served as a junior high physical education teacher for many years, then in 1986 he began coaching track and cross country at Taft HS in Woodland Hills, Calif. He led Taft HS girl's team to two City Section team titles and the boy's team to one. In 1986 as an assistant coach for track, he helped lead Taft HS to the state title behind future 400m Olympic champion, USC record-holder and current USC assistant coach Quincy Watts.
Hein Jr.'s son Curtis played football at USC in the late 1980s. Another son, Gary, was on the U.S. National Rugby team. Another son, Cody, was the women's volleyball coach at Chico State and Florida Institute of Technology, and passed away in January. His father Mel Hein Sr. played center collegiately at Washington State and in the NFL for the N.Y. Giants, being elected to both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame. He also served as a USC football assistant coach from 1951-65.
Hein Jr. is survived by his wife Judy, sons Gary and Curtis and nine grandchildren. No funeral service is planned because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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