June 5, 2009

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina track and field coach Curtis Frye will receive the Order of the Palmetto Saturday, the highest civilian honor awarded by the Governor of South Carolina to recognize lifetime achievement and service to the state.

The ceremony will begin at 6 p.m. at the Zone in Williams-Brice Stadium as South Carolina Director of Athletics Eric Hyman, university President Dr. Harris Pastides and Senator John Scott will reflect on Frye’s contributions that led to receiving the honor. Frye was nominated for the award by Sen. Scott.

The honor is the second this academic year bestowed upon Frye, who in October was awarded the Order of Ikkos Medallion by the United States Olympic Committee, a special order reserved for the coach of an Olympic/Paralympic medalist that signifies the highest level of excellence that a coach can receive. Frye received the honor after coaching Jerome Singleton Jr. to a silver medal in the men’s 100-meter dash at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing.

Frye is in his 13th year as head track and field coach at South Carolina. He has coached or overseen over 60 NCAA champions, 114 SEC champions and more than 260 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 25 Olympians who have won 11 medals, including three gold medals.

Also recognized by his peers in the United States, Frye was elected President of the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Association in December after serving four years on the Board of Directors. In addition, he served as an assistant coach for Team USA at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

He joins a list of coaches to receive the Order of the Palmetto that includes former basketball coach Frank McGuire and former football coaches Lou Holtz, Jim Carlen and Warren Giese as just a few of the South Carolina coaches to be honored. Other coaches around the state to receive the honor include Clemson’s Danny Ford, College of Charleston’s John Kresse and Summerville’s John McKissick.