Sept. 23, 2004

MILWAUKEE, Wis. - Jason Francis has been named as the assistant track and field coach at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, head coach Pete Corfeld announced today. A 2001 graduate of Indiana State University, Francis spent the 2003-04 season as a volunteer assistant pole vault coach at Lewis University in Romeoville, Ill.

"We are glad to have Jason aboard," Corfeld said. "He is a track person, so he really knows his stuff. With his decathlon background, he knows about every event, but especially the pole vault."

In his only season with the Flyers, Francis produced both the indoor and outdoor Division II National Champion and a second All-American in the event at both meets. He joined the Lewis staff upon completion of his masters degree in exercise science from Indiana State in 2003. In 2002-03 Francis volunteered with the Sycamore track team, coaching five athletes to top-10 finishes at the league meet in the pole vault.

Francis' affiliation with Indiana State began as a student-athlete, as he competed in the pole vault and decathlon. Four times he was named to the all-conference team, including in 2001, when he won the outdoor conference championship in the decathlon. A Downers Grove, Ill., native, Francis began at DuPage Junior College after a standout prep career at Downers Grove North High School.

"We believe Jason can come in and help us to maintain and exceed the level of success we have established here," Corfeld said.

Milwaukee's men's and women's squads have combined for 16 league titles in Corfeld's tenure, including a sweep of the league indoor and outdoor meets by the Panther men last season. UWM also posted a pair of second-place finishes on the women's side. The 2005 campaign gets underway with the Division I Invitational, Jan. 15, 2005, in Kenosha, Wis.