AUBURN, Ala. — John Mc-Donnell has been winning conference championships for nearly half his life.

Pretty impressive considering he turns 70 on July 2.

McDonnell was 36 when he won his first title as Arkansas ’ coach, at the 1974 Southwest Conference cross country meet, and he’s never stopped.

This weekend he’ll go for his 84 th — and last — conference title at the SEC Outdoor Track and Field Championships. It is McDonnell’s final conference meet because he has announced his retirement effective at the end of this outdoor season.

“I hate odd numbers,” Mc-Donnell said with a smile in reference to coaching 83 conference championship teams. “We’ve got to get that evened out again.” McDonnell’s conference titles with the Razorbacks include 38 in the SWC and 45 in the SEC since he became cross country coach in 1972 and was promoted to head track coach in 1978.

“Winning that first Southwest Conference title in 1974, man, I thought I’d hung the moon,” McDonnell said. “That was a big achievement at the time.

“ Then we won our first indoor track title [in 1979 ] and won outdoors [in 1982 ], and once we kicked that door down, it stayed open. We got used to winning.” A McDonnell-coached team has won at least one conference championship for 34 consecutive years and in 20 previous years took the Triple Crown by sweeping all three titles, including indoor and outdoor track.

“We all know he’s won a lot, but we’ve got some extra incentive to lay it all on the line for this meet,” said Arkansas senior distance runner Tyler Hill, who will run the 10, 000 and 5, 000 meters this weekend. “We definitely want to send him out on a good note and for his last conference meet to have a storybook ending.” McDonnell’s Razorbacks have won 45 of a possible 50 SEC titles since joining the conference.

“The numbers are just incomprehensible, and to realize he’s done it in the toughest conference in the United States magnifies the prestige,” Lady Razorbacks Coach Lance Harter said. “There are going to be so many coaches saying, ‘Boy, we’re sorry to see you go,’ but inside they’ll be thinking, ‘Thank God he’s retiring. We’ve finally got a chance now.’” Auburn Coach Ralph Spry said he knew McDonnell couldn’t coach forever, but that it’s still hard to believe he’s retiring after a career that also includes 42 NCAA titles.

“It’s kind of sad for the SEC, because he’s been an icon for our conference and one of the big reasons we’re considered the best conference in the country,” Spry said. “You’re happy because you don’t have to compete against him anymore, but it’s also sad that college track is losing such a great coach who has meant so much to the sport.” Spry said he’s always been impressed by McDonnell’s calm in pressure situations.

”I’ve never seen him panic, no matter how chaotic things may seem at a meet, ” Spry said. “That’s the measure of a true leader.” McDonnell smiled when told of Spry’s comments.

“I’m glad he thinks that, but I do get uptight inside,” McDonnell said. “But it’s like the old saying, ‘Never let them see you sweat.’” McDonnell said his message to the Razorbacks for the SEC meet won’t differ from other years.

“I’m going to approach it like any other meet. I don’t want the kids to think they have to win it for me,” he said. “I want us to win it for Arkansas.” It’s understandable if some Razorbacks feel extra pressure to win in McDonnell’s last conference meet, but Arkansas junior and team captain Nkosinza Balumbu said it’s a great opportunity, too.

“I think it adds more excitement to the meet and gives us something even more to strive for, because we want to bring this last SEC championship home for Coach McDonnell,” said Balumbu, this year’s NCAA Indoor triple jump champion. “Every one of us came to this school because of his winning mentality, his winning history.

“ He’s able to put the recipe together for a winning environment. He’s instilled in our minds that we’re a family and we want to bring together everyone to do their best, especially at the big meets.” McDonnell said he expects the meet to be “a dogfight” between Arkansas, LSU, Florida, Tennessee, Auburn and Kentucky.

“I’m sure Coach McDonnell expects us to win,” Balumbu said. “I think he’ll have a smile on his face going into the SEC Championships, and I think he’ll have a smile on his face when it’s over.”