CARMEL, Ind. -- One state championship. That was Chuck Koeppen's goal.

Just one.

Koeppen's inspiration was his Valparaiso High School coach, Ken Pifer. Valparaiso was supposed to win the state cross country title in 1963, and didn't. Pifer despaired. Soon thereafter, he died.

His memory lives. At Carmel, Koeppen has won 21 state championships, more than any coach in Indiana high school history. After his first -- in boys cross country in 1975 -- he extended Pifer's legacy.