Fresno State Athletics
Legendary Fresno State Coach to Retire
1/13/2000 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track and Field
Jan. 13, 2000
FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State men's track and field and cross country head coach Gene "Red" Estes will retire at the completion of the 1999-00 track and field season, director of athletics Al Bohl announced today.
"Red's career is certainly outstanding," Bohl said. "He will be remembered not only for his championships, All-Americans and Coach of the Year awards, but most importantly for the countless number of young people who's lives he touched and influenced."
Currently in his 36th year as men's cross country and 20th year as men's track and field coach, Estes is the senior member of the Fresno State coaching staff. He joined the Bulldog staff in 1964 as head cross country coach and assistant men's track and field coach. He became the head coach in 1981, succeeding the legendary Dutch Warmerdam.
Estes led his teams to 11 track and field and four cross country conference championships. From 1983-92, his teams won 10 consecutive Big West Conference men's track and field titles. He also guided the Bulldogs to the Western Athletic Conference men's track and field crown in 1994. Estes was named Big West Coach of the Year nine times and Region 8 and WAC Coach of the Year once. Over 100 of his athletes have reached All-America status and seven have won NCAA individual titles.
"The association I've had with the student-athletes has been the highlight of the 36 years," Estes said. "I've had the privilege to coach what turned out to be tremendous contributors to our society. And that is what makes coaching worthwhile."
His coaching career began at the University of Oregon in 1959 as co-head coach of the Ducks' freshman squad. In 1963, he served as an assistant track and field coach at Springfield (Ore.) High School as well as head coach of the Oregon freshman squad. One year later, he was hired by Fresno State. Estes received his bachelor's degree in physical education from the University of Oregon in 1959. He later returned to Oregon to obtain his master's degree in 1964. Estes also received a doctorate in physical education from Northern Colorado in 1969.
The Estes File
Cross Country Conference Championships
--- 1973 Pacific Coast Athletic Association
--- 1981 Pacific Coast Athletic Association
--- 1984 Pacific Coast Athletic Association
--- 1988 Big West Conference
Coaching Honors
--- Nine-time Big West Coach of the Year
--- Western Athletic Conference Coach of the Year
--- Region 8 Coach of the Year
Year-by-Year Men's Track and Field RecordYear W L T Pct. Finish 1981 10 6 0 .625 3rd 1982 6 3 0 .667 3rd 1983 7 3 0 .700 1st 1984 7 2 0 .778 1st 1985 8 3 0 .727 1st 1986 7 1 0 .875 1st 1987 9 1 0 .900 1st 1988 14 2 0 .875 1st 1989 14 0 0 1.000 1st 1990 13 3 0 .813 1st 1991 10 5 0 .667 1st 1992 11 1 0 .917 1st 1993 10 1 0 .909 3rd 1994 5 1 0 .833 1st 1995 3 1 0 .750 2nd 1996 13 0 0 1.000 3rd 1997 16 2 0 .888 6th 1998 9 0 1 .950 2nd 1999 9 2 0 .818 6th Totals 181 37 1 .829
