The coach has died, a south Alamosa original. Joe I. Vigil passed away Saturday evening at his retirement home in Green Valley, Arizona, at age 95.
Born Nov. 25, 1929, in Antonito and raised in Alamosa, Vigil became America’s distance running coach as he produced Olympians and raised Adams State into a national running powerhouse that literally put Alamosa and the San Luis Valley on the map as a place to run and go to college.
He coached Adams State to its first men’s national cross country title in 1971, and then from 1977 to 1989 turned Adams State into a national running juggernaut with 11 more cross country championships at the NAIA level.
His chatty, encouraging, demanding, distinct coaching voice could be heard across the Adams State campus and on track fields across the nation and world. His presence in coaching circles commanded attention as runners and coaches who cared about training and winning sought his guidance.
“I have so many thoughts and emotions,” said Damon Martin, who was mentored by Vigil and succeeded him in 1993 as head cross country and track and field coach at Adams State. “He meant so much to so many people and inspired people, and not just coaches and athletes, but even townspeople and house moms. I think the world lost a great one today.”
Raised by his mother, Melinda, the coach earned a bachelor’s degree from Adams State in 1953, and went on to coach football and track at Alamosa High. He grew up on Ninth Street in Alamosa, a proud Boy Scout and Eagle Scout who showed early coaching instincts by calling on neighborhood kids like Vince Lopez to run around the block so he could time them.
Alamosa High School became a running powerhouse under Vigil, both in boys cross country and track and field. The Maroons won nine straight conference track titles and three consecutive cross country titles from 1957 to 1965. During the period, Alamosa claimed the 1963 state high school track and field title, and were state runnerups four times in track and three times in cross country.
“It’s just a shock,” said Pat Melgares, an Alamosa High graduate who flourished as a runner at Adams State under Vigil and became his biographer with the book, “Chasing Excellence: The Remarkable Life and Inspiring Vigilosophy of Joe I. Vigil.”
Melgares said he spoke to Vigil a couple of weeks back. The coach was recuperating from an illness when he reached out. “He said, ‘I just wanted to hear your voice, see how you’re doing.’ That was Coach.
“He’s the one that we all thought could beat death, the one that will live forever, and in our minds he will.”
Vigil first became associated with the U.S. Olympics when he and then-Adams State Athletic Director Jack Cotton convinced the U.S. Olympics organizing committee to hold the 1968 Olympics marathon trials in Alamosa. The spectacle of Olympians from a variety of sports training in Alamosa and its high altitude for the Mexico Games became one of the town’s greatest moments.
“People like him make such an impact on their society and their community,” Martin said. “He didn’t just make ripple, he made waves. We’re very fortunate we have had such a great mentor.”
He coached the likes of Pablo Vigil, who led the 1971 national title team and became one of the world’s great mountain runners, and Pat Porter, his first Olympian who in 1983 set the World Record for a road 10K at 27:31.8.
Vigil coached Adams State to its first women’s cross country title in 1981, the first but not last time that Adams won both the men’s and women’s national titles in the same year.
“I’m heartbroken,” said Melgares. “He was such a loving, compassionate guy. He totally transformed my life.”