Timeline

By The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (Contact)

1938

Born in County Mayo Ireland.

1956

Begins running competitively while attending high school in Dublin.

1960

Wins Irish Championships and runs well enough in the 5,000 meters to qualify for the 1960 Summer Olympics, but another runner is selected by a committee to go to Rome.

1965

Moves to the United States to attend Emporia (Kan.) State believing he will be on scholarship, but leaves after a year because a scholarship isn’t available. He helps Emporia State win an NAIA outdoor track title before leaving.

1965

Moves to New York, where he works as a cameraman for WOR-TV. Among his duties are Mets games and the Soupy Sales Show.

1966

Moves to Lafayette, La., to run for Southwestern Louisiana, where he is on scholarship. Over the next three years he is a six-time All-American in cross country and track.

1967

Defeats American distance running standout Jim Ryan in a 2-mile race during a meet in Lafayette, La.

1969

Graduates from Southwestern Louisiana and gains his U.S. citizenship.

1970

Begins his coaching career at New Providence High School in New Jersey.

1971

Returns to Lafayette, La., to coach high school.

1972

Comes to Arkansas to be the Razorbacks’ head cross country coach and assistant track coach. To supplement his income, he works as a shop teacher at Greenland High School.

1974

Arkansas wins the Southwest Conference cross country title to begin a streak of conference titles that has reached 34 years.

1978

Promoted to head track coach, replacing the retiring Ed Renfrow.

1982

Arkansas wins its first SWC outdoor track title and completes its first conference triple crown — titles in cross country and indoor and outdoor track in the same school year.

1983

Turns down a job offer from Texas-El Paso.

1984

Arkansas wins its first NCAA indoor title, the school’s first undisputed national championship.

1984

Arkansas wins its first NCAA cross country title.

1985

Arkansas wins its first NCAA outdoor track title to complete its first national triple crown. Is inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame.

1987

Turns down a job offer from LSU.

1991

Arkansas wins its first SEC competition, taking the cross country title.

1992

Turns down a job offer from Arizona State.

1993

Arkansas wins its 10th consecutive NCAA indoor track title, setting a record for most national titles in a row, surpassing Iowa wrestling and Southern California’s outdoor track teams.

1994

Arkansas scores a meet-record 223 points to win the SEC outdoor title.

1995

Turns down a job offer from Florida.

1997

Arkansas reclaims the NCAA indoor title and wins it for the 13th time in 14 years.

1998

Turns down a job offer from Oregon and Arkansas announces it will build a new indoor track.

2000

Arkansas wins its eighth consecutive NCAA outdoor title.

2001

Suffers a mild heart attack, but returns to coaching after a brief break.

2003

Arkansas wins its first NCAA outdoor title since 1999 to begin a three-year streak.

2006

Arkansas wins the SEC outdoor title in the first meet at the new John McDonnell Field.

2006

Arkansas wins its 42nd and most recent national title, taking the NCAA Indoors.

2007

The NCAA Committee on Infractions strips Arkansas of the 2004 and 2005 national outdoor titles for violations committed by former assistant Lance Brauman. Arkansas has appealed to have the titles restored.

2007

Sustains injuries after being trampled by a bull at a livestock auction.

2007

Arkansas wins its 34th consecutive conference cross country title.

2008

Announces his retirement.

Originally published 12:30 a.m., April 22, 2008
Updated 12:30 a.m., April 22, 2008