Art Kranick, who led the Saratoga Springs High School cross country and track teams to immense success as a coaching duo with his wife, Linda, has died. Multiple Section 2 coaches and officials at Saturday’s Section 2 cross country championships in Queensbury confirmed that Art Kranick died Saturday morning. A cause of death was not immediately known. The couple stepped down from their coaching positions this past April, citing Art Kranick’s medical conditions. Over nearly four decades, Art Kranick was at the helm of one of the country’s top high school running dynasties. The Kranicks mentored a slew of champion runners and winning teams, leading runners to Nike Cross Nationals titles in 2019 and 2022. Their cross country teams combined to win more than 20 state championships and nearly 30 titles at the state Federation meet.
“Just heard a little while ago, we were here already,” current Saratoga girls’ cross country coach Tom Reilly said Saturday. “Our sympathies go out to Mrs. Kranick and her family. Awful news.
“His legacy and Linda’s are unrivaled. So many happy kids owe a college education to Art and Linda. They were champions of the downtrodden, they did a really good job with kids who were in need. He’ll definitely be missed.” The couple began coaching track and cross country at Saratoga Springs in 1985. They coached both the boys’ and girls’ teams until 2012. Beginning that year, other coaches were chosen for the boys’ teams, but the Kranicks continued to lead the girls’ teams. In recent years, a lengthy investigation was conducted into the coaching methods of Art and Linda Kranick. The duo, though continued coaching at the school until this past spring. This report will be updated throughout the weekend.
I had the opportunity to spend a little time with Art and Linda through the years of my coaching at CBA. I could not say I was close with them, yet they were so kind to me. They were always happy to be doing what they loved most. We chatted at length the Friday before the Bowdoin Classic at the park last fall. There girls were doing strides, singing and having a great time. Linda looked on proudly as Art directed them through their pre meet preparations. It was a great afternoon. I am glad I crossed paths with them. These two changed the sport for the better. Art will be missed. Rest in peace to a great educator. I wish Linda the best moving forward.
I ran high school in New York state in the early 2000s and remember many of their great teams vividly. If my memory serves correctly, at the 2002 NYSPHSAA meet at Sunken Meadow State Park their lead runner (in the women's race) took a wrong turn (she would have won), and they still won the team race handily without their low stick. Saratoga's 2004 Women's Team may be the greatest high school girls' team ever assembled (and was probably the greatest high school cross country team ever assembled in terms of dominance until Newbury Park a few years ago). Additionally, the Saratoga Men winning NXN in 2005 was another epic moment. I didn't know the Kranick's personally, but they left a lasting impact on the sport and in New York State running.
I ran high school in New York state in the early 2000s and remember many of their great teams vividly. If my memory serves correctly, at the 2002 NYSPHSAA meet at Sunken Meadow State Park their lead runner (in the women's race) took a wrong turn (she would have won), and they still won the team race handily without their low stick. Saratoga's 2004 Women's Team may be the greatest high school girls' team ever assembled (and was probably the greatest high school cross country team ever assembled in terms of dominance until Newbury Park a few years ago). Additionally, the Saratoga Men winning NXN in 2005 was another epic moment. I didn't know the Kranick's personally, but they left a lasting impact on the sport and in New York State running.
RIP!
Folks who competed after the introduction of the Nike meet will never fully appreciate how extraordinary it would be to have two Footlocker qualifiers on the same team. Three would be unheard of, not sure if anyone ever did it. Saratoga girls had FOUR, and in the region that produced the Footlocker National Champ that year (Aislynn Ryan, who had many thrilling races across all three seasons with Nicole Blood). No shade against Newbury Park, but having two sets of extraordinary siblings was a huge boon; if you ask me the greatest high school XC team of all team, to me it remains that Saratoga girls squad.
two sets of siblings is nice, but that Saratoga team was made up of two high school teams. Pretty much the entire Argyle team, (which was very good might have won the small school state champs), transferred to Saratoga somehow.
Art and Linda also did a bunch of messed up stuff. Never telling runners where/when the race was. Giving them supplements after parents and school administrators told them not to. He’ll, they tied one kid to the back of a car and drove to try and make her run faster.
I ran high school in New York state in the early 2000s and remember many of their great teams vividly. If my memory serves correctly, at the 2002 NYSPHSAA meet at Sunken Meadow State Park their lead runner (in the women's race) took a wrong turn (she would have won), and they still won the team race handily without their low stick. Saratoga's 2004 Women's Team may be the greatest high school girls' team ever assembled (and was probably the greatest high school cross country team ever assembled in terms of dominance until Newbury Park a few years ago). Additionally, the Saratoga Men winning NXN in 2005 was another epic moment. I didn't know the Kranick's personally, but they left a lasting impact on the sport and in New York State running.
RIP!
Folks who competed after the introduction of the Nike meet will never fully appreciate how extraordinary it would be to have two Footlocker qualifiers on the same team. Three would be unheard of, not sure if anyone ever did it. Saratoga girls had FOUR, and in the region that produced the Footlocker National Champ that year (Aislynn Ryan, who had many thrilling races across all three seasons with Nicole Blood). No shade against Newbury Park, but having two sets of extraordinary siblings was a huge boon; if you ask me the greatest high school XC team of all team, to me it remains that Saratoga girls squad.
Folks who competed after the introduction of the Nike meet will never fully appreciate how extraordinary it would be to have two Footlocker qualifiers on the same team. Three would be unheard of, not sure if anyone ever did it. Saratoga girls had FOUR, and in the region that produced the Footlocker National Champ that year (Aislynn Ryan, who had many thrilling races across all three seasons with Nicole Blood). No shade against Newbury Park, but having two sets of extraordinary siblings was a huge boon; if you ask me the greatest high school XC team of all team, to me it remains that Saratoga girls squad.
Saratoga went 1, 3, 5, 6 and 28 at the Footlocker NE Regional in 2004. Second was Aislinn Ryan, who won the National Championship two weeks later in San Diego.
At states, they went (1) Blood, (3) Ferguson, (5) Davidson, (6) Delay, (8) Lane, (23) McElroy, (31) Trauscht. Second was Ryan and 4th was Cummings.
I ran high school in New York state in the early 2000s and remember many of their great teams vividly. If my memory serves correctly, at the 2002 NYSPHSAA meet at Sunken Meadow State Park their lead runner (in the women's race) took a wrong turn (she would have won), and they still won the team race handily without their low stick. Saratoga's 2004 Women's Team may be the greatest high school girls' team ever assembled (and was probably the greatest high school cross country team ever assembled in terms of dominance until Newbury Park a few years ago). Additionally, the Saratoga Men winning NXN in 2005 was another epic moment. I didn't know the Kranick's personally, but they left a lasting impact on the sport and in New York State running.
RIP!
Folks who competed after the introduction of the Nike meet will never fully appreciate how extraordinary it would be to have two Footlocker qualifiers on the same team. Three would be unheard of, not sure if anyone ever did it. Saratoga girls had FOUR, and in the region that produced the Footlocker National Champ that year (Aislynn Ryan, who had many thrilling races across all three seasons with Nicole Blood). No shade against Newbury Park, but having two sets of extraordinary siblings was a huge boon; if you ask me the greatest high school XC team of all team, to me it remains that Saratoga girls squad.
To be fair… as the guy a couple posts up crudely alluded to, the 2004 Saratoga girls team included two runners (not the whole team) from Argyle. Lane and Davidson had already been coached up to elite level by Caitlin Lane’s dad by the time they enrolled at Saratoga. The undeniable greatness of the 2004 girls team wasn’t really a testament to Kranick’s coaching acumen. But let’s be honest, that hardly needs any testament. He developed great teams and individuals going all the way back to Cheri Goddard in the late ‘80s. Even last year, already compromised by his health, he was out on the course in a wheelchair, coaching his team. Legend.
If I had to pick one pinnacle of achievement for him, it would be his 2005 boys team. He coached them up to win the national title, including twice taking down an FM squad that had almost everybody back from their legendary 2004 team. The way he peaked his back-end scorers that season was incredible - astonished everybody, even Bill Meylan.
I am sorry for the loss all of those who were close to Art. It sounds like he was well liked by the athletes.
I remember competing against the Saratoga boys in the latter half of 2000's, and their pre race prep was pretty insane. Art was with them, and those guys were very dialed in.
They were doing a unique ladder workout of sprints at Nike Indoor Nationals one year, and at the time at least, there was this enigmatic aura around Saratoga Springs and their training methods. I was around during the time of Steve Murdock, just a few years behind him.
I am extremely curious, can anyone shed light on what their training system was?
I had the opportunity to spend a little time with Art and Linda through the years of my coaching at CBA. I could not say I was close with them, yet they were so kind to me. They were always happy to be doing what they loved most. We chatted at length the Friday before the Bowdoin Classic at the park last fall. There girls were doing strides, singing and having a great time. Linda looked on proudly as Art directed them through their pre meet preparations. It was a great afternoon. I am glad I crossed paths with them. These two changed the sport for the better. Art will be missed. Rest in peace to a great educator. I wish Linda the best moving forward.
I coached at a smaller school in Upstate NY and they were very supportive and encouraging. They acknowledged that my school was 3-4 times smaller than there's but we were competitive. We never beat their girls.
RIP they'll be missed but it's their legacy that helped get NY its own regional for Nike.
Art Kranick was a wonderful man, husband and coach. As a journalist, I've known Art and Linda for some 35 years, covering the team's extraordinary success and spending time with them at various state and national events. They did so much for young people, in running and beyond. They are beloved by many of their former athletes. Art had a gentle manner about him and the athletes looked up to him as a role model. Art and Linda were married for over 50 years. God bless both of them.
Over the years folks have seemed pretty divided as to their being great coaches and great people, vs. using abusive coaching methods.
I was teammates in college with several section 2 runners including one Saratoga runner. She was somewhat neutral on them, initially didn't speak highly of them at all right out of HS but softened over time saying that they knew how to get the most out of their runners. She also said he was just sort of a weird guy and eccentric while the wife was more of the scary one.
The girls coach at my college recruited numerous Saratoga (and FM) girls throughout his tenure before he was pushed out and they were all massive underachievers, but he was also a terrible coach on his own and probably would've turned Tuohy into a 19:40 5k girl.
They have somewhat of a complicated legacy, but you've also seen a lot of their former runners speaking warmly of him and how out of his way him and his wife went to help their runners in the last several days since the news broke. I wouldn't discount that either.