John McDonnell: The Most Successful Coach in NCAA History

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173 Frank O’Mara anchored Arkansas to a school and meet record in the 4 x mile relay at Drake Relays in 1980—the last of many triumphs at the iconic Des Moines event. The Razorbacks competed in the Penn Relays each year thereafter. Photo courtesy of University of Arkansas Athletics Media Relations. Randy Stephens was the first individual NCAA champion under John McDonnell after winning the 1000 yard at the 1982 NCAA Indoor Championship at Cobo Hall in Detroit. Photo courtesy of University of Arkansas Athletics Media Relations. 174 The quest for the triple crown: Paul Donovan, Tom Moloney, John, and Frank O’Mara after winning the 1982 SWC indoor title in Fort Worth. Photo courtesy of John McDonnell. Dave Taylor, Randy Stephens, and Frank O’Mara at the 1982 Southwest Conference Outdoor Championships in Houston after clinching the first triple crown in Southwest Conference history. Photo courtesy of John McDonnell. The neverending van rides were an annual rite of passage for McDonnell’s earliest teams— including (left) Frank O’Mara and (right) Paul Donovan. Photo courtesy of John McDonnell. 175 Heather with a baby calf. Photo courtesy of John McDonnell. It did not take Sean and Heather long to share their father’s affinity for baby calves at the ranch. Photo courtesy of John McDonnell. 176 John showing Heather and Sean how to handle a horse. Photo courtesy of John McDonnell. Sean with a baby calf at the ranch. Photo courtesy of John McDonnell. 177 John and his mother, Bridget, in 1982. Photo courtesy of John McDonnell. John in a portrait with his young family—Ellen carried most of the load raising the kids when John was out of town for meets or recruiting. Photo courtesy of John McDonnell. 178 Mike Conley’s national titles in the long jump and triple jump helped Arkansas win the first of twelve consecutive NCAA Indoor Championships starting in 1984. Photo courtesy of University of Arkansas Athletics Media Relations. John being lifted into the air by his athletes after winning the NCAA Indoor Championships for the third time in 1986. It would soon become a habit for both John and the program as they reeled off an NCAA-record twelve indoor national championships in a row. Photo courtesy of University of Arkansas Athletics Media Relations. 179 The Razorback track team is greeted by Arkansas governor Bill Clinton outside the state capitol building in Little Rock after winning their first national title in 1984. Photo courtesy of University of Arkansas Athletics Media Relations. The 1984 NCAA crosscountry championship team had few dull moments—(from left) Espen Borge, Keith Iovine, Roland Reina, David Swain, Maurice Conley, Matt Taylor, Joe Falcon, Richard Cooper, Gary Taylor, Doug Consiglio, Michael Byrd, Paul Donovan, Ian Cherry, and Liam Looney. Photo courtesy of University of Arkansas Athletics Media Relations. 180 The Arkansas 4 x 1500 meter relay team won the Penn Relays in 1985 in a record time that still stands— (from left) Paul Donovan, David Swain, “Mr. Penn Relays” Gary Taylor, and Keith Iovine. Photo courtesy of University of Arkansas Athletics Media Relations. Frank O’Mara, Mike Conley, and Paul Donovan wore their Olympic suits prior to the 1984 Olympics in front of a massive billboard celebrating the program’s first indoor national championship that winter. Photo courtesy of John McDonnell. Frank O’Mara leading Paul Donovan and Gary Taylor through another sub-4:00 mile effort on the indoor track in 1986. Photo courtesy of John McDonnell. 181 John travelled to Ireland for his mother’s funeral in 1986 in his last visit to the island for fifteen years. He is pictured here with his siblings: (front row from left) Mary, Philomena, Carmel, Anne, and Margaret; (back row from left) Michael, Paddy, and John. Photo courtesy of John McDonnell. “And here comes Roddy Haley!” The Texarkana native set a SWC record in the 400 meter, a world record in the 500 meter, and ran the fastest 400 meter in the history of the Penn Relays (43.5). Photo courtesy of University of Arkansas Athletics Media Relations. 182 Jeff Pascoe developed into the NCAA champion in the pole vault outdoors in 1986. Courtesy of University of Arkansas Athletics Media Relations...