John McDonnell: The Most Successful Coach in NCAA History

Images

365 John Tyson and John McDonnell in 2007. The Tyson family’s generosity led to the indoor facility and the televised Tyson Invitational. Photo courtesy of University of Arkansas Media Relations. John with the check for $3 million from Don Tyson that led to the construction of the Tyson Center in 2000. Photo courtesy of University of Arkansas Media Relations. 366 Tyson Gay (top left) and Wallace Spearmon Jr. (right) added a new dimension to the Arkansas sprint program, including an unprecedented national title in the 4 x 100m relay (top right) in 2004. Photo courtesy of University of Arkansas Athletics Media Relations. 367 “Faster . . . Faster!” John exhorting his runners from his usual spot behind the first curve at the Tyson Center. Photos courtesy of University of Arkansas Media Relations. “You gotta get that sucker!” “Check your instruments . . .” “Come on, kid!” 368 Alistair Cragg’s career was resurrected by John, and in turn, Cragg led the Arkansas program back to glory. Photo courtesy of University of Arkansas Media Relations. Yep, he’s still there: It took nearly a 4:00 last mile for Alistair Cragg (left) to beat future Olympic silver medalist Nick Willis of Michigan (right) in the 3000 meter at the 2004 NCAA Indoor Championships. Photo courtesy of University of Arkansas Media Relations. 369 Chris Mulvaney winning the 1500 meter national title outdoors in 2004. Photo courtesy of University of Arkansas Media Relations. Woo! Pig! Sooie! John (right) waves to the hometown crowd after the 2005 NCAA Indoor Championship after Wallace Spearmon Jr. (left) lit up the Tyson Center. It was the most gratifying national title of his career. Photo courtesy of University of Arkansas Media Relations. 370 John and Dick Booth, assistant coach for field events, circa 2006. John and Dick worked together for twenty-six years. Photo courtesy of John McDonnell. John inducted into the USATF Hall of Fame in 2005 with Wes Santee. Photo courtesy of John McDonnell. 371 Dr. Alan Sugg (left) joined John after the USATF Hall of Fame induction to celebrate the honor. Photo courtesy of John McDonnell. McDonnell with his final staff in 2008: (from left) director of operations Danny Green, Dick Booth, John, and Kyle White. Photo courtesy of University of Arkansas Athletics Media Relations. 372 Despite a close encounter with a bull in 2007 (top), John continued working at the ranch in Vinita in retirement with his favorite New Holland tractor (bottom). Photo courtesy of John McDonnell. 373 From having no facility on campus in 1973, Arkansas boasted the finest indoor (top, Tyson Center) and outdoor (bottom, John McDonnell Field) facilities in the country before John retired in 2008. Photo courtesy of University of Arkansas Athletics Media Relations. 374 Fayetteville was a different place in 2001 than it was when John arrived in 1972—a fact attested to by the highway signs entering town. By 2008, Arkansas had won forty-two NCAA track and field championships. Photo courtesy of John McDonnell. 375 John speaks with new head coach Chris Bucknam (left) at the 2009 Chile Pepper Festival. Photo courtesy of University of Arkansas Athletics Media Relations. John was honored along with his family at halftime of the football game against Alabama in September 2008 for his thirty-six years of service to the University of Arkansas and excellence in the sport. Photo courtesy of John McDonnell. 376 John with Enda Kenny, prime minister (Taoiseach) of Ireland, in July 2012. Photo courtesy of John McDonnell. Retirement offered John the chance to spend more time with Sean, Heather, and Ellen. Photo courtesy of John McDonnell. ...