by Steven Fernandez
Daily Lobo
Matt and Mark Henry have been focused on coaching the UNM track and field team, so talking about their retirement isn't their favorite topic.
However, ask the athletes on the team about the coaches, and they will talk at length about their admiration of the Henrys.
The Henry brothers announced their retirement during the indoor season, but after Saturday's Don Kirby Memorial Invitational - UNM's final regular season meet - the reality started to sink in for the Lobos.
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"A lot of people came up to me today and said, 'I'm really sad your dad's not going to be here,' and it just kicked me in the face," said Kurt Henry, son of Matt Henry. "I wasn't even thinking about it until (Saturday). It's a really
emotional time."
The Henrys will finish off the outdoor season before leaving the UNM program. The Lobos head to the Mountain West Conference Championships on May 9 in San Diego. They'll go to the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships in late May and the NCAA Outdoor Championships in June, if any
athletes qualify for that meet.
Until then, the brothers have too much work to do and little time to think about leaving UNM, associate head coach Mark Henry said.
"We're busy with one meet after another, so we don't really look at it," he said. "The middle of June comes and that national meet is over, then it will be there."
Matt and Mark Henry have coached the track and field and cross country teams for the past seven years.
In that time, the staff has had one of the most successful tenures in school history.
During the Henry administration, 13 athletes have qualified for the NCAA Championships, and since 2001, UNM has produced four All-Americans and won 21 MWC Championship events.
In 2004, the men's cross country team finished a program-best ninth at the NCAA Championships, with a team made up of runners who came out of New Mexico high schools.
Matt Henry said he is proud of his athletes' accomplishments during his time at UNM.
"That's always special for me," he said. "I love track and field, and I'll never leave track and field. I feel like I'll be around these young people one way or another. I know my wife's really upset at me right now for making the decision I did, but I know it's the best decision."
Athletes on the team aren't happy that the Henrys are leaving, either.
Some members displayed their emotion after Saturday's meet, fighting off tears as they left the UNM Track and Field Complex.
Senior sprinter Randle McCain said the Henrys did more for athletes than just coaching.
"My last four years here, they've helped me grow not only as an athlete, but also as a person," he said. "If it wasn't for them, I probably wouldn't be out here, because this sport takes a lot out of your body. It's rough, but I'm glad it was
with them."
Matt Henry said one of the reasons he doesn't get too sad about retiring from UNM is because of his attachment to the program. He has two sons, Kyle and Kurt Henry, who are team members.
Because of that, as well as his relationships with the athletes on the team, Matt Henry said he will continue supporting the Lobos.
Jeremy Johnson said a lot of team members are upset by Matt Henry's departure because they see him as a father figure.
"He's been just such a great coach to me," he said. "When you think of UNM track, you think of the Henrys. They go hand-in-hand. There's just a couple people out there that have a place that special in your heart, and coach (Matt) Henry's one of them."
