Olympic Committee honors Joe Vigil

(08-28-2005)

The United States Olympic Committee honored Dr. Joe Vigil '53, '59 in its 2004 Coach of the Year Recognition Banquet.

Coach Vigil, USA Track & Field, received the "Doc" Councilman Science in Coaching Award. The award recognizes coaches who incorporate science as a part of their training methods.

The following is an excerpt from the banquet program:

Vigil is the consummate coach scientist, one who combines systems of training, sport science and motivation towards having his athletes achieve at the highest levels. Throughout his 30-plus years of coaching, Vigil has used the information provided by human performance data to develop specific training stimuli for each athlete.

He was a dedicated head track and field coach of Adams State College in Alamosa for 29 years. Vigil led teams to win 12 NAIA National Cross Country Championships and the 1995 NCAA Division II National Championship. He was named as National Coach of the Year on 14 different occasions and producing 425 All Americans through his coaching and sport science techniques. Vigil coached Deena Drossin Kastor to the 2004 Silver Medal in the marathon.