By Ashlea Hellmann

When senior thrower ZeNai Savage finished her freshman season on the University of Louisville track and field team, she wasn’t satisfied.

Savage’s future was changed in the 2004 season by the arrival of new head coach Ron Mann.

“After my first year Coach Mann came in and gave me a new start,” Savage said.

After years building a great reputation at Northern Arizona University, Mann felt he and the University of Louisville track program were about to collide. Originally the school’s slogan was “Dare to be Great,” an idea Mann wanted to bring to the track team.

A couple of years later brought a new slogan, “It’s Happening Here,” which Mann feels symbolizes the new appearance of the track team.

Mann’s arrival at U of L in 2004 came after 24 years as the head coach at NAU. While mostly known for his long coaching stint, his life on a track goes back much further.

Mann got his start in track and field when he was in high school. After graduating, he went onto perform where he would eventually coach, NAU. Not only was he a notable coach, but Mann was successful in many events, including the 800m, 1600m, and 4 x 400m relay.

Mann’s past accomplishments aren’t important to him; it’s being part of his new team that makes all the difference for him.

“It’s what drives me every day, knowing I’ve been given the opportunity to be a part of something great,” Mann said.

Mann’s name may not be as familiar as U of L men’s basketball coach Rick Pitino’s, but he still has the respect of his athletes.

“It is an honor,” Savage said about competing under Mann. “You can tell that he is kind of the man.”

Mann started his career at U of L by bringing in an all new coaching staff. Instead of a few coaches for the whole program, Mann broke down the team by events and brought in coaches who specialized in each area.

“All the credit goes to my assistants really,” Mann said.

After setting up the base for his team, Mann got to work on bringing in the athletes that would take his program to the top.

“We’ve got a team at a great university in a great town under a great coaching staff,” Mann said. “It’s a matter of finding the right athletes for this environment. We keep a watch on around 3,000 athletes with about 300 on the front burner. This gets us about 30 into the program,”

Once he has his recruits, Mann hits the track hard. Whether it’s at an indoor practice at the Trager Center or poking his head in on a thrower’s practice, Mann has his handprints all over the program.

“My classroom is a 400m oval with a lot of grass in the middle,” Mann said. “But this isn’t just a job; it’s a lifestyle for me.”

Mann’s biggest challenge though isn’t his team, but the media. He has been working extra hard to get his team the attention they deserve. U of L now has a guest radio spot but is still trying to get more exposure to showcase their recent successes.

Mann hopes that the community will take an interest in their home meet on April 19th, The Lenny Lyles/Clark Wood Invitational at Cardinal Park. Mann hopes the meet’s high intensity will draw the crowds in. The day will feature giveaways and events going off every two minutes.

“It’s a chance to see track and field at its finest. It’s the oldest sport in the history of the world,” said Mann.

Mann’s resume runs for pages, but that isn’t what makes him so special to his athletes.

“He really cares about us, not just as athletes, but as people too,” said Savage.