Fresno State Athletics
In memoriam, Bob Fraley: 1937-2025
1/2/2026 4:45:00 PM | Track & Field
FRESNO, Calif. - Former Fresno State track & field head coach Bob Fraley passed away this week at the age of 88.
The head coach for eight years, Fraley coached track and field at Fresno State for a combined 28 years, mentoring 44 All-Americans, winning a slew of awards and saving the program from the budget ax by coaching without pay. He gained a world-wide reputation as a pole vault expert and launched the Run for the Dream Indoor meet.
Fraley's success over nearly 30 years at Fresno State was phenomenal, with his focus on sprints, jumps, decathlon, relays, and pole vaulting. His athletes accomplishments stemmed from a coaching philosophy that he learned early on, Fraley said: "Excel in your sport and in the classroom, work and compete hard, cheer for your teammates and be consistent in developing your beliefs."
Under his direction, numerous Bulldog track and field athletes were All-Americans and Academic All-Americans, winning titles and championships around the United States and throughout the world from college meets to the NCAA championships to the Pan American Games to the Olympics.
Since taking over the reins, the Fresno State track and field program established itself as one of the premier squads in the West both in competition and in the classroom. In addition, Fraley's teams were annually recognized for their community service efforts while claiming the campus philanthropy honor multiple times under his direction.
Fraley coached at every level of track and field in the U.S. and internationally. His awards included USA Track and Field's NIKE Coach of the Year, United States Olympic Committee's Developmental Coach of the Year, Region 8 Head Indoor Coach of the Year, president of the Division I Track Coaches, chairman of U.S. pole vault development, Western Athletic Conference Women's Coach of the Year, and WAC Men's Coach of the Year.
For his work in the pole vault, Fraley was inducted into the U.S. Pole Vault Hall of Fame. Perhaps the most widespread attention Fraley attracted was in 2003, when it looked like Fresno State would eliminate track and field for budgetary reasons. Fraley stepped up and donated his salary to the school's track program to keep it alive.
Stories about his coaching and personality appeared in magazines around the world, including Sports Illustrated and Track & Field.
Fraley was a 1960 graduate of Fresno State. Before joining the Fresno State staff, Fraley won 13 league track titles in 15 seasons at Lemoore (Calif.) High School, losing only two dual meets during that time. A 1956 graduate of Laton High School, Fraley competed in football, basketball and track.
The head coach for eight years, Fraley coached track and field at Fresno State for a combined 28 years, mentoring 44 All-Americans, winning a slew of awards and saving the program from the budget ax by coaching without pay. He gained a world-wide reputation as a pole vault expert and launched the Run for the Dream Indoor meet.
Fraley's success over nearly 30 years at Fresno State was phenomenal, with his focus on sprints, jumps, decathlon, relays, and pole vaulting. His athletes accomplishments stemmed from a coaching philosophy that he learned early on, Fraley said: "Excel in your sport and in the classroom, work and compete hard, cheer for your teammates and be consistent in developing your beliefs."
Under his direction, numerous Bulldog track and field athletes were All-Americans and Academic All-Americans, winning titles and championships around the United States and throughout the world from college meets to the NCAA championships to the Pan American Games to the Olympics.
Since taking over the reins, the Fresno State track and field program established itself as one of the premier squads in the West both in competition and in the classroom. In addition, Fraley's teams were annually recognized for their community service efforts while claiming the campus philanthropy honor multiple times under his direction.
Fraley coached at every level of track and field in the U.S. and internationally. His awards included USA Track and Field's NIKE Coach of the Year, United States Olympic Committee's Developmental Coach of the Year, Region 8 Head Indoor Coach of the Year, president of the Division I Track Coaches, chairman of U.S. pole vault development, Western Athletic Conference Women's Coach of the Year, and WAC Men's Coach of the Year.
For his work in the pole vault, Fraley was inducted into the U.S. Pole Vault Hall of Fame. Perhaps the most widespread attention Fraley attracted was in 2003, when it looked like Fresno State would eliminate track and field for budgetary reasons. Fraley stepped up and donated his salary to the school's track program to keep it alive.
Stories about his coaching and personality appeared in magazines around the world, including Sports Illustrated and Track & Field.
Fraley was a 1960 graduate of Fresno State. Before joining the Fresno State staff, Fraley won 13 league track titles in 15 seasons at Lemoore (Calif.) High School, losing only two dual meets during that time. A 1956 graduate of Laton High School, Fraley competed in football, basketball and track.
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