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July
31, 2001 UT-Pan
American Announces Hiring of Ricky Vaughn The
University of Texas Pan American has announced the hiring of one of the
most respected and successful field event coaches in the nation as
it’s new Head Coach of Men’s and Women’s Track and Field/Cross
Country. Ricky Vaughn, who most recently served as an assistant coach
for National Champion Louisiana State University, will begin his duties
at UTPA in August. “The
hiring of Ricky Vaughn brings instant credibility to our efforts of
establishing a nationally respected and competitive NCAA Division I
Track & Field/Cross Country program. Having served at some of the
elite Track & Field/Cross Country programs in intercollegiate
athletics, Coach Vaughn has established himself as one of the premier
field event coaches in the profession. Equally impressive is Coach
Vaughn’s commitment to academic integrity. He has a proven track
record of recruiting talented student-athletes who excel in both the
athletic and academic arenas. We look forward to the continued
development of our Track and Field/Cross Country program under Coach
Vaughn’s leadership and proudly welcome Ricky and his family to The
University of Texas Pan American with great enthusiasm,” said Director
of Athletics, William J. Weidner. Vaughn
comes to UTPA from national track and field powerhouse LSU, where he
served as a top assistant coach for the 2001 Men’s Indoor National
Champions. During his three year tenure on the LSU staff, the program
sent 23 student-athletes to the recent 2001 NCAA Outdoor National
Championships in which the Tiger men finished 5th in the
nation while the women achieved a national ranking of sixth. In
addition, LSU garnered the 2000 NCAA Women’s Outdoor National
Championship and were 1999 SEC Women’s Indoor Champions during his
stay there. “Ricky
did an excellent job and was a highly active member of my staff during
his time at LSU. I am happy
that he has found a home at UTPA and he is deserving of running his own
Division I program,” said LSU Head Track & Field Coach, Pat Henry. Prior
to coaching at LSU, Vaughn served at nationally respected UTEP and NCAA
Division II power, Ashland University. While at UTEP, Vaughn coached
both men’s and women’s field events while also serving as the
recruiting coordinator for both men’s and women’s track & field
and cross country and helped the Miner’s program earn the WAC Men’s
Outdoor Conference Championships during 1996-97.
At Ashland University, Vaughn served as the field events and
strength and conditioning coach for the men’s’ and women’s Track
& Field and Cross Country teams that were among the best in the
nation. “As
an assistant at Ashland, Ricky was instrumental in a number of top 10
finishes for our Track & Field and Cross Country programs at the
NCAA Division II level”, said Ashland University Head Coach, Bill
Gallagher. “There is no doubt that Ricky will move the UTPA program
forward and will be a great addition to the current staff”. A
native Texan, Vaughn brings over 12 years of experience as a top
assistant. Throughout a highly successful coaching career, Vaughn has
been instrumental in coaching and developing 10 WAC Champions, 1 SEC
Champion, 29 All-Americans, 6 NCAA Champions, 1 1996 Olympian and has
coached the national record holder for Mexico in the women’s discus
and for Greece in the men’s hammer. As
an athlete, Vaughn was a three time All-American and two-time Lone Star
Conference Champion in both the hammer and discus while competing at
Angelo State University where he graduated with a degree in Physical
Education with a minor in biology. After graduating, Vaughn continued to
train in the hammer throw competing in the 1992 Olympic Trials and such
prestigious venues as the U.S. Olympic Festival and the USATF
Championships. Vaughn was nationally ranked as high as 7th in
the hammer throw between 1989 and 1994. While coaching at Ashland
University, Vaughn earned a Master’s Degree in Education. “Coaching
at UTPA is an opportunity I am very excited about. There is certainly a lot of potential for both the Track
& Field and Cross Country programs to grow and to develop strong
student-athletes in both the academic and athletic arenas” said
Vaughn. “I am looking forward to moving to the Rio Grande Valley and
excited to start working with the administrators and coaches in the
athletics department”.
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