Joe Vigil, a renowned coach and leading expert on distance running and altitude training who built Adams State, a little-known university in Colorado, into a dynastic cross-country and track and field power, producing 19 men’s and women’s national team titles and 425 all-Americans, died on July 19 at his home in Green Valley, Ariz. He was 95.
His death, after a brief illness, was confirmed by the university.
At the international level, Vigil (pronounced VEE-hill) helped revive America’s once moribund presence in distance running by mentoring the silver and bronze medal winners in the marathon distance at the 2004 Athens Olympics.