Don Lockerbie's brushes with famous Tar Heels at North Carolina - Stars & Stripes Cricket Podcast

Don Lockerbie: UNC Connections, Coaching, and Venue Development

Don Lockerbie, a former UNC track and field athlete who later became head coach, recounts how his long-running ties to UNC Athletics shaped both his coaching career and a later “venue development” business. He also shares stories about famous athletes he encountered on campus.

Lockerbie’s Athletic and Coaching Background (UNC and Early Career)

• All-American record confusion: He describes disputes in the documentation about whether he was an All-American at UNC, including inconsistencies in event distances (e.g., 800 vs. 880 meters) and uncertainty about his presence in media guides.
• Growing up around track: Lockerbie grew up near track and field because his father was a Canadian middle-distance runner and a former coach/teacher. He attended Stony Brook School, a small boarding school.
• UNC athlete to professional runner: After strong performances in New York and at the Penn Relays, he competed at UNC, later running professionally (including internationally) before returning to UNC as a coach.
• 1980 Olympic setback: A calf injury derailed his attempt to make the 1980 Olympic team, with context referenced around the U.S. situation for the Moscow Olympics.

Turning Point: Becoming UNC’s Head Track Coach and Building Elite Facilities

• 1981 coaching opportunity: In 1981, at age 23, Lockerbie is offered a coaching role and becomes UNC’s director of track and field.
• Dean Smith’s facility lesson: He tells a story about meeting Dean Smith, who criticized UNC’s track facilities as the “worst in the ACC.”
  • Key takeaway: Dean Smith emphasized that sports facilities matter because they are visible to everyone—often more so than academic spaces—so investment in athletics signals overall program strength.
• Raising funds and building venues: Dean Smith helps Lockerbie raise millions of dollars. Lockerbie then drives the design and build of major track and indoor facilities, using university engineering/architecture resources.
• Starting the venue development business: In 1982, noting that he lacked outside consultants, Lockerbie places what he says was his only ad in Track and Field News to connect with institutions building new facilities—helping launch his venue development business.

Famous Sports Figures: Michael Jordan and Adidas/Nike

• Jordan and Olympic preparation: Lockerbie recounts Dean Smith bringing him into discussions about helping Michael Jordan prepare for the Olympics—specifically as a long jumper.
  • Training style: Jordan reportedly trained for track over a short window without measured jumps, relying on long-jump drills focused on speed and takeoff mechanics.
• Bobby Knight intervention: Before Jordan’s first track meet attempt, Bobby Knight calls, Jordan is pulled back to basketball, and the track plan ends.
• Equipment and business detail: Lockerbie adds that Jordan’s track setup required him to use Adidas (a UNC tradition at the time). He later argues that Nike ultimately outcompeted Adidas for the broader deal, calling this a “big mistake” for Adidas.

Lawrence Taylor Softball Story (and a “Best Athlete” Comparison)

When asked for a Lawrence Taylor story, Lockerbie describes playing on a chapel hill softball team against an all-star group that included Taylor and former football players.

• Lockerbie says their team was crushed early, allowing many runs in the first inning.
• He claims Taylor was amused and laughing as he called them out as “older losers.”
• Lockerbie frames it as a fun, memorable night, despite the lopsided score.

“Best Athlete” Claim: Randy Weir (Aruba) Over Household Names

When comparing athletes like Taylor and Jordan, Lockerbie says the best athlete he ever met at UNC was someone far less famous: Randy Weir from Aruba.

• Versatility: Lockerbie describes Weir as exceptionally versatile—playing basketball at UNC, competing for Aruba internationally (including track at the 1976 Olympics), and skillfully participating across multiple sports (including swim/track involvement and football connections).
• Creativity and character: He also mentions Weir’s creativity, including playing jazz guitar.
• Why Weir wasn’t a U.S. household name: Lockerbie says Weir never became widely recognized in the U.S. because he didn’t reach finals at major events, but he was still an elite all-around talent.

Other Athlete Anecdotes Mentioned

Lockerbie references additional campus athletic connections, including:

• teammates and visiting athletes such as Peter Penny Smith (track achievements)
• other UNC-linked sports figures, including people connected through family ties (including musicians/athletes mentioned indirectly)

He closes with the idea that many more names could be added—emphasizing the dense network of notable athletes around UNC.

Presenters / Contributors

• Don Lockerbie (primary speaker)