Longtime Land O' Lakes cross country coach Kris Keppel passed away Sunday afternoon.
Land O' Lakes principal Ric Mellin announced Keppel's passing. Keppel had been battling pancreatic cancer. Several supporters took to Twitter to mourn the popular coach.
Runner Kyle Honn tweeted "You've always been there for me coach. You've impacted my life so much. I'm who I am today because of you. RIP"
Mellin tweeted "Honored to call him my colleague & friend. Live "the Keppel Way" and be all you can be."
Another runner, Jake Poore, tweeted "I've never met a stronger, nor wiser man that Kris Keppel, you have taught me so much and I miss you already. RIP coach, I love you so much."
Bright House Sports Network was with Coach Keppel this fall when the school honored him with a street leading into the stadium called Keppel Way. He talked frankly about his diagnosis and his shortened future.
Click on the video to see Keppel's inspirational message.