Fraley wins national honor

Fresno State's director of Track and Field Bob Fraley received the USA Track & Field's 2003 Nike Coach of the Year award on Dec. 5 at the Jesse Owens Awards Dinner and Xerox Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. The ceremony was held at the USA Track & Field 2003 Annual Meeting in Greensboro, N.C.

Fraley has taught kinesiology classes at Fresno State for many years.

As chair of USATF men's pole vault development, he played a pivotal role in rejuvenating the pole vault in the United States when in 1989 he created the Pole Vault Summit, now held in Reno. Featuring competitions and an exchange of knowledge about pole vaulting, the event attracts more than 2,000 male and female athletes, from teen-agers to Olympic gold medalists.

His work has reaped dividends: in the last three years alone, Team USA men's pole vaulters have won the gold and silver medals at both the 2000 Olympic Games and 2001 IAAF World Indoor Championships, as well as the bronze medal at the 2001 World Outdoor Championships.

"I feel very honored, but I'm more shocked than anything," Fraley said of the award. "This honor is huge and I'm just very thankful to be selected. USA Track & Field has always been supportive of my activities to try to improve the sport and they've given me a platform to do a lot of things. We have to get out and sell the sport, and USA Track & Field has done a really good job of giving me the opportunity to get out and do those things."

"It couldn't happen to a better person," Fresno State Athletic Director Scott Johnson said. "Bob's all about being an educator. If anything, this is a great educational lesson on how people can work together and accomplish something and make it a win-win situation."

Earlier this year, Fraley garnered national attention when he donated his salary to the Fresno State men's track program in order to prevent it from being cut due to budgetary reasons.

A graduate of Fresno State, Fraley has coached 37 NCAA All-Americans at his alma mater. He coached three individual NCAA titles, all of which were by his son, Doug, in the pole vault. In addition, Fraley has coached 64 league titlists, and has been named the Region 8 head indoor coach of the year five times.

"Coach Fraley's contribution to the sport of track and field, and particularly to the pole vault, cannot be understated," said USATF CEO Craig Masback. "He almost single-handedly made pole vaulting the popular phenomenon it is today in the United States, and our recent success in the event speaks for itself. He is very deserving of this honor."

"Nike is proud to congratulate Coach Fraley as the Nike Coach of the Year honoree," said John Capriotti, Global Sports Marketing Director of Nike. "He has made a phenomenal difference in the lives of thousands of young people over the years."

Read Sports Illustrated's article on Bob Fraley.