When William S. Hunt was asked to guide the Harvard women's cross country and women's track and field programs in 1976, he admits he was a bit skeptical.

"I had never coached women before," Hunt recalls.

Now, at age 65, nine years after he single-handedly brought women's track to Harvard, the man they call "Pappy" is stepping down.

Gone are the initial doubts, and when he retires at the end of this season, Hunt says he'll be leaving the "greatest experience" he's ever had.

Currently the coordinator of both the women's track and field and cross country programs--Frank Haggerty took over coaching duties in 1981--the jovial Pappy will leave behind a legacy of memories for himself and his runners.

"Pappy is like our father, enthusiastic and encouraging," says junior runner Mariquita Patterson. "There are not too many words to describe him--he's just phenomenal."

"He's the main reason I came to Harvard," Patterson says.

Teammate Alice Neuhauser agrees. "I would say half the women on the team are there now because they want to be with Pappy," she says. "He's the best coach you could ever have, because he cares about the person first and the athlete second."

"I always try to make track fun," Hunt says. "The girls come to me to get away from the serious side of Harvard--the side across the river," he says from his Dillon Field House office.

Hunt came to Harvard in 1968, after retiring as a Navy pilot. The captain of both the track and cross country teams at his alma mater, Springfield College, he recalls being drawn to Cambridge because he was anxious "to work with young people again."

From 1968 until 1976, Hunt coached the freshman men's track and field and cross country teams. In 1976, the Harvard Athletic Department gave him sole responsibility for organizing and coaching the women's track and cross country programs.

"The women were screaming for it," Hunt jokes today.

Hunt coached both squads until the 1982 seasons, when Haggerty moved in and Hunt gave up full-time coaching. But even with Haggerty bearing most of the responsibility, Hunt has been one of the key reasons for the women's program's recent successes.

"Pappy is really a good women's coach," Brown women's track Coach Jonathan E. Hird says. "He never slights the less talented runner in favor of the more talented point-getter. His team is always happy and contented, but not complacent--there's a difference," he adds.

Haggerty says he's unsure in what direction the program will head after Pappy's retirement.

"One thing I hate about leaving," Pappy says, "is that I'm really going to miss these kids. A lot of people may wonder about the future of the country, but knowing these youngsters, I have no qualms about it--this country's in good hands."

Hunt says he picked up his nickname from long time Harvard men's track Coach Bill McCurdy, who retired in 1982. After Hunt returned to college following World War II, McCurdy noticed that "old guy" practicing with the Springfield cross country team.

"Let's go, Pappy," McCurdy yelled from the sidelines, the new name stuck.

Several years after his initial dubbing as "Pappy." Hunt is now leaving the sport on which he grew up because "coaching is a young man's game," he says.

"I'm going to become the greatest-horse track lout," he adds. "No, seriously," he continues, "I'm going to go fishing with McCurdy."

"I've been trying for 35 years to teach McCurdy how to fish," Hunt says. "I'll do it now, or I'll drown trying."