Luther College professor emeritus, head coach and Athletics Hall of Famer, Kent Finanger passed away on June 12. He graduated from Luther in 1954 with a bachelor of science in biology. As a student-athlete, he earned all-conference honors in basketball, football and track and field. He was also recognized as a NAIA Little All-American running back and led the nation in scoring in 1953. Two years after graduating, he returned to Luther to teach. Then in 1964, he became the chair of the health and physical education department serving until 1996.

A true coaching legend, along with his teaching duties he was the head coach or assistant coach for 93 individual seasons of sports at Luther including baseball, basketball, cross country, football and track and field.

Of all his sports, it was cross country and track where Finanger had his most profound impact. He led 17 teams to the NCAA national cross country championship where his teams finished 10 times in the top-10, including a national championship in 1985. His cross country teams won 23 Iowa Conference championships. Finanger also coached the 1965 men's track and field team to a national runner-up finish at NCAA College Division meet.

He founded one of the nation's longest running and prestigious cross country events, the All-American Cross Country meet which has been hosted by Luther annually since 1973. Finanger also helped launch the Luther College women's cross country program in 1975.

He was inducted to the Luther Athletics Hall of Fame in 1997. The 1985 cross country team was the first team to be inducted into the athletics hall of fame in 2021. The 1965 track and field team went into the hall of fame in 2025.

A pre-service visitation will be held on Sunday, June 28, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Center for Faith and Life at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. A funeral service will follow at 1 p.m. at the Center for Faith and Life with a reception at the Peace Dining Room in the Dahl Centennial Union. Interment will be held on Monday, June 29, 10 a.m. at the Lutheran Cemetery in Decorah with full military rights.

More Links
Helms Funeral Homes - Obituary
Luther College Athletics Hall of Fame Page - Link
Luther Magazine Feature Story - Someone Like Coach by Kate Frentzel - Link