For 36 years, Ron Warhurst mentored Michigan runners, paving the way to Big Ten team championships and individual Olympic appearances.

On Wednesday, the veteran Wolverines' men's cross country coach and associate men's track and field coach who has been part of the Michigan landscape since 1974 announced his retirement.

“I have had a very nice run at Michigan,” Warhurst said in a statement issued by the school Wednesday evening. “I’ve coached some great individuals who have become great men and great friends, and I appreciate all they have done for my career.”

Michigan won conference titles in each of Warhurst's first three seasons before adding three more (1980, 1997 and 1998). Twelve of his 36 cross country teams finished among the Top 10 at the NCAA Championships with 39 of his runners capturing All-America honors.

Five of Warhurst's runners earned 10 Olympic berths including 1992 U.S. team captain Brian Diemer, who appeared in the 1984, 1988 and 1992 games and won a bronze medal in the steeplechase in 1984. Warhurst's other Olympians include Brad Barquist, United States (1996); Kevin Sullivan, Canada (2000, ’04, ’08); 2008 1,500m silver medalist Nick Willis, New Zealand (2004, ’08); and Nate Brannen, Canada (2008).

At the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, three former Wolverines training under Warhurst earned spots in the 1,500-meter semifinals: Willis, who went on to earn the silver medal, Sullivan and Brannen. Warhurst also coached his volunteer assistant coach Tim Broe, a 2004 U.S. Olympian and 5,000-meter finalist in Athens.

"He has always been considered one of the top coaches in the country and his contributions to our athletic program over the years have been substantial and most appreciated," Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon said in a released statement Wednesday.

After serving as Michigan's assistant track and field coach for 26 years, Warhurst was hired in 2000 to replace retiring head coach Jack Harvey. In 2008, Warhurst’s final year as Michigan’s head track and field coach, the Wolverines won the Big Ten outdoor championship, the 31st in the school's history.

That season resulted in him earning both Big Ten Coach of the Year and Great Lakes Regional Coach of the Year honors. Warhurst served two years as the program’s associate head coach (2009-10) before announcing his retirement on Wednesday.

Among Warhurst’s most accomplished pupils on the track was Sullivan, a three-time Olympian, two-time Academic All-American and four-time NCAA champion (mile, 1,500 meter run, distance medley relay, 1995) and the mile in 1998. He also coached 1983 NCAA 3,000-meter steeplechase champion and Olympic bronze medalist Diemer, and John Scherer, a three-time NCAA distance champion in 1988 (10,000m) and ’89 (5,000m and 10,000m).

More recently, Warhurst coached his distance runners to six NCAA titles from 2003-05. Brannen was the 2003 and ’04 NCAA indoor 800m champion, while Willis claimed the 2005 indoor mile NCAA title and Andrew Ellerton won the 2005 NCAA outdoor 800m title. Michigan also won back-to-back distance medley relay NCAA titles under Warhurst’s guidance in 2004 (Brannen, DarNell Talbert, Andrew Ellerton, Willis) and 2005 (Rondell Ruff, Stann Waithe, Ellerton, Brannen).

"If there is anyone that has been synonymous with Michigan cross country and track and field it is Ron Warhurst. While there have been many great athletes come through the program one thing has remained consistent, and that is Ron," Sullivan said in a statement Wednesday.

"The results of his athletes over the past 36 years are a testament to his place as one of the great coaches in Michigan and NCAA history. Ron has had such an important influence in the lives of his athletes and it is sad that this influence will no longer be there for more generations of Michigan athletes to experience."

Jeff Arnold covers sports for AnnArbor.com and can be reached at (734) 623-2554 or by email at jeffarnold@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @jeffreyparnold.