There’s no doubt that The University of Texas-Pan American’s track and field and cross country program has taken a huge step ahead in the two years that Ricky Vaughn has served as head coach.

All Vaughn has done is lead the Broncs and Lady Broncs as they have taken steps to become a power in the region and a player on the national stage.

Under Vaughn’s leadership, the men’s program has produced the first two-time All-American in school history. junior distance runner Westly Keating earned All-American status by finishing 25th at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in 2002, then finished 11th at 10,000 meters at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Keating finished seventh at the 2003 NCAA Cross Country Championships this fall, earning All-American status a third time. Last spring, the Broncs finished 25th while sending five student-athletes to the first-ever NCAA Midwest Championships. The field events, Vaughn's specialty, have flourished at Texas-Pan American since his arrival. The Broncs have continued to break school records, virtually rewriting the record book and establishing themselves as one of the up and coming teams in the region.

Vaughn joined Texas-Pan American after serving as an assistant coach for Louisiana State University, a perennial power that has won several NCAA Division I national championships.

At LSU, Vaughn served as a top assistant coach for the 2001 Men’s Indoor national champions during his three-year tenure in Baton Rouge. In 2001, LSU sent 23 student-athletes to the NCAA Outdoor Championships, in which the Tiger men finished fifth, while the women finished sixth. In addition, LSU won the 2000 NCAA women’s outdoor championship, and also won the 1999 Southeastern Conference women’s indoor title during his tenure.

Prior to coaching at LSU, Vaughn served at nationally respected Texas-El Paso, and NCAA Division II power Ashland. While at UTEP, Vaughn coached both men’s and women’s field events, while also serving as the recruiting coordinator for men’s and women’s track & field and cross country. He helped the Miners win the Western Athletic Conference men’s outdoor title during the 1996-97 season. At UTEP, he coached Alex Papadamitriou to the 1995 NCAA championship in the 35 pound weight throw and a runner-up finish in the hammer. The following season, Harri Vahauihu was the NCAA runner-up in the weight throw. Outdoors, Vaughn coached two All-American javelin throwers as well as Papadamitrou, the Greek national record holder, who finished 15th at the 1996 Olympic Games.

At Ashland, 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. Ashland student-athletes won several NCAA Division II national championships, and shot putter Leether Green set a women's NCAA Division II record.

With more than 14 years of coaching experience, Vaughn has been instrumental in coaching and developing 10 WAC Champions, one SEC Champion, 31 All-Americans, 6 NCAA Champions, and one 1996 Olympian. He has coached the national record holder for Mexico in the women’s discus, and the national record holder for Greece in the men’s hammer.

As a student-athlete, Vaughn was a three time All-American and two-time Lone Star Conference champion in both the hammer and discus at Angelo State, from which he graduated with a major in Physical Education and a minor in Biology. After graduating, Vaughn continued to train in the hammer throw, competing in the 1992 United States Olympic Trials, and other prestigious events including the U.S. Olympic Festival and the USA Track and Field Championships. Vaughn was ranked as high as seventh nationally in the hammer throw between 1989 and 1994. Vaughn is married to the former Mary Rose, and they have two sons: Reid, who is seven years old, and Rawley, who is four. While coaching at Ashland, Vaughn earned a master’s degree in Education.