July 10, 2008

FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State Director of Athletics Thomas Boeh announced the hiring of Scott Winsor as Fresno State's track and field head coach Thursday.

"We are very excited to have Scott join Fresno State," said Boeh. "His extensive expertise and leadership will be important as we continue to advance the proud tradition of Fresno State track and field."

Winsor coached at University of Notre Dame for the last 20 years, serving as the assistant coach under Joe Paine. Winsor coached both the jumps and the throws until 2003 when he chose to focus solely on the jumps.

"I want to sincerely thank Thomas Boeh, Danny White and the search committee for allowing me to become part of the Bulldog family," said Winsor. "I am honored to be given this opportunity to work with Fresno State. There is unbelievable track potential at Fresno State and in the Valley, and I look forward to working on and building this program."

Winsor's record of success is an impressive one. During his tenure, he coached 13 All-Americans, 25 NCAA Regional Qualifiers, 23 Big East Conference Champions, and five conference record-setting student-athletes. Winsor coached his athletes to 20 qualifications for the NCAA Championships, finishing among the top 10 in the country on 11 occasions.

Winsor's athletes have pursued excellence in the classroom as well as on the field. Two of Winsor's athletes earned Academic All-American honors and one student athlete was named an NCAA Post Graduate Scholarship Winner.

In the 2008 season, the men's team at Notre Dame won the Big East title as Winsor and the rest of the Irish coaching brigade were named the Big East Men's Coaching Staff of the Year, the 11th award for the staff.

Winsor's record with women pole vaulting will fit in seamlessly with the tradition of pole vault excellence at Fresno State. This past season, Winsor coached Mary Saxer to her Big East championship, Big East record and Notre Dame record of 13-feet, 1.5 inches in the pole vault. Winsor's guidance also helped Jamie Volkmer evolve as the pioneer in women's pole vault at Notre Dame, winning seven All-Big East citations and becoming the first Irish female vaulter to clear the 13-foot barrier.

Thanks to Winsor, Notre Dame broke new ground in 1997 as Jennifer Engelhardt became the first member of Notre Dame's women's track & field team to qualify for the NCAA Championships in a field event. Engelhardt placed ninth in the indoor high jump en route to the first of her three All-America honors. In addition, Engelhardt went on to compete at the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials, where she finished tied for seventh.

Winsor also coached 2003 Notre Dame graduate Tameisha King to long jump All-America honors four times including top-eight finishes in both the indoor and outdoor NCAA events in 2003.

Some of Winsor's notable protégés on the men's side include two-time long jump All-American Marshaun West and 1999 indoor pole vault All-American Mike Brown.

Prior to his arrival at Notre Dame in 1988, Winsor spent two years (1983-84) as the varsity track coach at Fulton High School in Middleton, Mich., as well as one season (1987) as an assistant at his alma mater, Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa.

A 1987 graduate of Loras with a bachelor's degree in physical education, Winsor was a standout performer on the track squad, specializing in the jumping events. He was the team's captain for his final two seasons, helping Loras win the 1987 Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title. For nearly two decades, he also held the school record in the outdoor high jump (7-0) until the mark was topped in 2005.

Winsor went on to earn his master's of science in administration degree from Notre Dame in 1995.

"I'd like to congratulate Coach Batesole and the baseball program at Fresno State on the national championship. I'm looking forward to bringing championships to the Bulldogs in track and field," said Winsor.

Join the State - Fresno State!

back to Bulldogs Track & Field home