Longtime track coach and founder of the Philadelphia Pioneers Track Club Alex Woodley died Saturday at his home in Philadelphia. He was 71.

As head coach of the Philadelphia Pioneers, Woodley led the group to five consecutive USA national track and field team championships and coached more than 50 NCAA champions, numerous Olympians and his athletes set 10 world records. The list of Woodley's star athletes includes John Carlos, Larry James, Ivory Crockett, Herman Frazier, Mel Pender, Steve Riddick, Charles Foster, Thomas McLean, Haisley Crawford, James Burnett, Reggie Jones and Tony Darden.

Born April 30, 1933 in Philadelphia, Woodley attended Northeast Catholic High School, where he excelled as a scholar-athlete and graduated at the early age of 15. An outstanding prep performer as a high jumper, Woodley later attended LaSalle University as a premed student, where he earned a degree in biology and continued to excel as a high jumper. From 1963 to 1996 he taught English and African-American studies at Abington High School.

A pioneer in the area of corporate sponsorship for track and field teams, Woodley fought for equal pay rates for black athletes during the civil rights movement.

His 1952 marriage to the former Ann Elizabeth Dorsey ended in divorce. In 1978, he married Jean Dick, who survives him. Survivors include two sons, Alexander J. and Jeffrey A.; another daughter, Aminta Hawkins Breaux; and his mother, Micaela Jimenez Woodley.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 29 at Reformation Lutheran Church, 1215 E. Vernon Road in Philadelphia. In lieu of flowers, donations in the name of Alex Woodley may be forwarded to the AFNA National Education and Research Fund and should be sent to The Architects Building, Suite 1200, 117 South 17th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103.