by Steven Fernandez
Daily Lobo
Matt and Mark Henry simply didn't have the patience to stick around for long-awaited promises to be met.
The head coaches of the UNM track and field team announced their retirement at a press conference Monday, saying the rise of the program under new Athletics Director Paul Krebs would be a long and strenuous process.
"It's a tough decision. It's the correct decision," Matt Henry said. "We leave now because I think it's only fair to Mr. Krebs."
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They will coach the remainder of the indoor season and throughout the outdoor season before stepping down.
The track and field teams improved under the Henry brothers, and it will be a tough loss for UNM, Krebs said.
"I'm personally saddened by their decisions and a little disappointed for selfish reasons," he said. "These two guys devoted their lives to track and field. They're outstanding coaches, and they are going to be missed by our student athletes and by our athletic program."
The announcement came less than a week before the start of the Mountain West Conference Championships, which began Thursday at the Albuquerque Convention Center.
Matt Henry said he was disappointed with how the track and field and cross country programs were treated under former Athletics Director Rudy Davalos.
Although Krebs is working to improve the programs, Henry said he and his brother could not wait for those improvements to come through.
"I know that when Mark and I came, we had a lot of promises that never could come true for us," he said. "We were always told that there were some things that were going to happen, and it didn't
happen."
Under the old athletic administration, Henry said he wanted to see more scholarships and recruiting money available to the track and field and cross country teams.
A maximum of 12 scholarships are available to men's track and field teams under NCAA rules. UNM has eight members of its men's team on scholarship.
Matt Henry will miss coaching the Lobos, including his sons Kyle and Kurt Henry, but he will try to get the best out of his athletes for the remainder of his tenure,
he said.
"We still have a few more steps to go," he said. "It ain't over yet."
The team was shocked to hear the news and will dedicate the rest of the season to Matt Henry, senior Juan Ortega said.
"For the next few months that we have him, we're going to show him what he's done for us," he said. "It's going to be pretty emotional. We're definitely going to show him what he means to us."
Track and field hosts MWC Championships
Today, 10 a.m.
Albuquerque Convention Center
