Dec. 16, 2008
PHOENIX, Ariz. – South Carolina’s Curtis Frye has been named the new president of the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) it was announced Tuesday at the annual USTFCCCA Convention held at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort and Spa in Phoenix.
Frye will resume his role beginning Jan. 1, 2009, taking over for outgoing president Pat Henry. Frye served as an at-large member of the Board of Directors the last four years and is the Southeastern Conference’s representative for the NCAA Division I Track and Field Executive Committee. The election makes Frye the first coach from the SEC or ACC to be selected as president of the association.
“I’m honored to follow the history of people elected to lead this organization,” Frye said. “Pat Henry has been a great leader and we’ve had many outstanding leaders at all levels over the years, including people like Bob Fraley from Fresno State, Sam Bell from Indiana, Beverly Kearney from Texas and Amy Deem at Miami. They’ve all done wonderful jobs, and now for me to get a chance to lead the entire association is something that I didn’t expect or campaign to do. My colleagues thought it was time and asked me to step into the role as we try to move forward to unite some things between USA Track & Field and the US Coaches Association.”
In addition to Frye, Fred Barends (Capital University) was re-elected as treasurer and Aaron Russell (Lock Haven University) remains as secretary.
“I look forward to working directly with CEO Sam Seemes and with all of the presidents with each association to help create an agenda for everything in the best interest of the sport – not just the interest of Division I or II or III – and to work for everything in the best interest of all athletes, not just ones at the elite level,” Frye said. “That’s the priority, to help the divisions unite and to not drive things towards one group or division. There’s lots of work to be done. We’ll try to improvise a creative way to get more scholarships for the sport to help Athletic Directors out so that they don’t have to add sports to stay in Title IX compliance. We have a challenge ahead of us, and I hope I have a vision to help lead those challenges.”
Frye is in his 13th year as head track and field coach at South Carolina and most recently has been bestowed with the Order of Ikkos medallion, presented by the United States Olympic Committee to signify the highest level of excellence a coach can achieve. He has coached or overseen over 60 NCAA champions, 108 SEC champions and more than 380 All-Americans during his career.
One of the most well-respected coaches in the country, Frye brought South Carolina its first team NCAA championship in any sport when his women’s team captured the 2002 NCAA Outdoor Championship crown. A three-time United States Track Coaches Association (USTCA) National Coach of the Year, Frye has coached 31 Olympians who have won 10 medals, including three gold medals. In addition, Frye served as an assistant coach for Team USA at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.
“I’m glad that South Carolina put me in a position to lead,” Frye said. “If I hadn’t been at the University of South Carolina, I probably would not have had the success I’ve been able to obtain. I’ve been fortunate to have the University of South Carolina’s full support. My wife tells me that I have to do this for the experience and because of how well this support has treated me. When I got her endorsement, it sealed the deal for me.”
