Paul D. Sargent Title: Head M/W CC & Track Coach Department: Athletics Office Location: Spurlock Office Phone: (317) - 738 - 8037 E-mail Address: psargent@franklincollege.edu

Paul Sargent was appointed Franklin College's men's and women's cross country coach in 1994. He later was named head coach of both the Grizzlies men's and women's track and field teams in 1998.

During his tenure, Sargent has guided Franklin to its first Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference women's track and field championship (in 2010) and its first cross country team titles - both in 2008 - earning HCAC Coach of the Year honors for both the men's and women's crowns. Three Grizzly male runners and four Franklin female competitors automatically qualified for All-HCAC honors by finishing among the top 12 individuals in the competition.

During his tenure, Sargent has guided Franklin to its first Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference team championships - both in 2008 - earning HCAC Coach of the Year honors for both titles. Three Grizzly male runners and four Franklin female competitors automatically qualified for All-HCAC honors by finishing among the top 12 individuals in the competition.

He previously was voted the league's top coach for guiding his men's team to a second-place finish in the 2006 HCAC Championships, which was at that time the best ever finish in the history of men's cross country at Franklin.

Sargent followed that success in the 2007 season with a second-place finish by both his men's and women's teams in the conference meets. Another Franklin record also was set in the 2007 season, this time on the women's side (for lowest team score) with three runners finishing with all-league honors at the HCAC championships.

Also during his coaching career, Sargent coached All-America athlete Robyn Burns '06 to two consecutive berths in the NCAA Division III national women's cross country championship event and to the NCAA III track and field nationals. Burns also earned the HCAC's Most Valuable Runner honor in 2003 along with All-HCAC honors in cross country for four consecutive years.

In the spring of 2006, Sargent led the men's track and field team to a second-place finish in the 2006 HCAC Championships, the best ever finish in the history of men's track and field at FC.

Moreover, Sargent coached standout athlete, Brandon Welti '09, who earned the HCAC Most Valuable Track Athlete honor and was named to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association's 2008 Division III All-Academic Track and Field team, the first Grizzly men's track athlete to be honored as such. He also guided Heather Waterman '11, who was the HCAC Most Valuable Track Athlete in 2009. He also guided Heather Waterman '11, who was the HCAC Most Valuable Track Athlete in 2009 and 2010, earned the HCAC Most Valuable Runner trophy in 2009 and was voted to the All-District V Second Team in the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America program.

During the 2009-10 academic year, the Franklin women's cross country team was one of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division III Scholar Teams of the Year, marking the seventh straight year the Grizzlies program achieved the honor. Franklin was one of a record total of 153 Division III programs on the women's 2009 All-Academic Teams list. One of three HCAC members to boast of a Scholar Team, Franklin posted a team grade-point average of 3.22. Moreover, FC was one of 106 schools to make the list of USTFCCCA Scholar Teams for track and field in '09-10, sporting a team GPA of 3.19.

Sargent is a 1991 graduate of Franklin College, where he served as director of intramural sports for one year. A two-year letterman in cross country, Sargent graduated with a degree in sociology and religion. He and his wife, Nicci, and two children reside in Franklin.