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Lumley competed for the Lancers from 1988-92 and then returned to join the coaching staff under Fairall in 1999 and then remained.
“He was successful, but very humble, which is another lesson I learned,” Lumley said. “He enjoyed life and it was contagious. He liked to live life and enjoyed what he was doing and it was something that everyone fed off.”
Often viewed as an individual sport, Fairall brought a team-first concept to the Lancers.
“There’s no ‘I’ in team,” Fairall once said. He introduced Lancer Corner on the track’s fourth turn for athletes to cheer their teammates on to the finish line.
And the Lancers found plenty of success – individual and team – under Fairall’s guidance. The Lancers won 25 national university championships and 46 provincial conference titles.
For his part, Fairall was named coach of the year at the national or conference level on 65 occasions.
“Dennis Fairall was a special person,” Lancers’ director of athletics Mike Havey said in a release. “His record of accomplishment put the University of Windsor and the Lancers track and field and cross-country programs on the map, but that was not what made him special.
“He was a humble and incredibly effective team builder and collaborator. He positively impacted so many student-athletes and community groups over the years that keeping count was impossible.
“His coaching tree is wide and deep and that impact will continue to be felt for years. When you met with Dennis you always felt better afterwards. He made you feel good.
