RENO, Nev. - One of Nevadas most successful and long-time coaches, track and field/cross country head coach Curt Kraft, has turned in his resignation to pursue other opportunities and to spend more time with his family, the school announced today.
The Minot, N.D., native wishes to take some time to spend with his wife and two teenage daughters, time which he has not had due to his tireless devotion to the program over the years. He has been at the school for 14 seasons, serving his first four as an assistant before taking over the reins as head coach in the summer of 1994.
Kraft has won four conference titles as head track and field/cross country coach at the school in his 10 years. His teams won three titles in the WAC over the last two seasons with the 2003 indoor crown, the 2003 cross country championship as well as the 2004 indoor title, and the Big West outdoor title in 2000.
Winner of eight coach-of-the-year awards, Kraft has claimed two from the WAC for indoor track and field, in 2003 and 2004, one from the Big West for the 2000 outdoor season, and one accolade from the NCAA Mountain Region for indoor track and field in 2003, among his many honors.
Were coming off one of the best seasons weve ever had with two WAC titles this year and coming close to a third as well as a No. 12 dual ranking by the United States Track Coaches Association (USTCA). But its been a strain on me in getting us to this level and in maintaining it. Ive been away from my family a lot with recruiting and the long schedules for the three sports. I want to spend more time with my family and pursue other opportunities, Kraft said.
His student-athletes have broken every school record during his tenure and the Pack had three NCAA qualifiers this year, the first time multiple athletes from the school have qualified for the national championships. He has produced nine NCAA national championship qualifiers and three All-Americans, including junior Nicole Pettys (Seattle, Wash.) sixth-place in this years 800-meter run.
Kraft, who earned his Masters degree in education at Nebraska, will continue in his current role through the summer and help with the transition of a new coach. Although he wont rule out coaching again, he intends to pursue work in the Reno area that will allow him to spend more time with his family. A national search for his replacement will begin immediately.
I support Curt in whatever he chooses to pursue and appreciate his years of service and his excellence in building the womens track and field and cross country programs at Nevada. I know this wasnt easy for him but he believes this is in his best interest and that of his family. We wish him well, Athletics Director Cary Groth said.