INDIANAPOLIS -- Receiving the prestigious USA Track & Field Legend Coach Award in 2015 is the accomplished Dr. Joe I. Vigil, Ph.D, who has demonstrated exemplary achievement as a leader in the sport both domestically and internationally in positions at the helm of competition, as a coaching instructor and as a goodwill ambassador.
 
The award ceremony will take place at USATF Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, on June 27, 2015.
 
Vigil, a decorated leader with a USATF Master Coach distinction, is a 14-time National Coach of the Year, who has earned inductions into 11 Halls of Fame and has received the TAC President’s Award, the Coaching Education Lifetime Achievement Award and the USOC “Doc” Counsilman Coach Award twice.
 
Vigil has led two U.S. Olympic Teams, including appointments at the Seoul 1988 and Beijing 2008 Games. His resume also includes leadership at four Pan American Games, two World University Games and seven IAAF World Cross Country Championships.
 
Under his direction, athletes have realized 20 combined podium appearances at World Championships and Olympic Games in both cross country and track & field, making Vigil the only active coach to attain such success. His direction has also produced 47 individual senior champions, 17 national records, and two athletes with No.1 world rankings.
 
Among his esteemed pupils are 2004 Olympic gold, silver and bronze medalists Stephano Baldini, Meb Keflezighi and Deena Kastor respectively. He also coached Brenda Martinez in 2013 to a World Championships bronze medal in the 800 meters.
 
At the collegiate level, his guidance resulted in 425 All-America distinctions, 87 individual national titles and 19 total national championships from both cross country and track.
 
As a coaching educator, he was a founding member of The Athletic Congress (TAC) and USATF Coaching Programs in 1980, serving as chairman for nine years. He is a Level IV IAAF Lead Instructor with experience at all levels from high school associations and USATF to the U.S. Olympic Committee and International Olympic Committee as a coaching clinician.
 
Vigil earned bachelor's and master's degrees from Adams State with post-graduate work at Louisiana State University and Toledo University. He received a masters from Colorado College, and Ph.D from the University of New Mexico.
 
Vigil notes the premise of his professional goals is to develop his student-athletes through “The Pursuit of Excellence” in family, life, academics and athletics.
 
The USATF Legend Coach Award is in its second year. The inaugural award was presented to Hall of Fame Tigerbelle Coach Ed Temple in 2014.