Francis changed trajectory of athletics in Jamaica for better MVP Track Club pays homage to legendary co-founder, technical director and coach ‘Franno’

The MVP Track and Field Club is paying homage to their iconic co-founder and technical director, Stephen ‘Franno’ Francis, for his part in revolutionising Jamaica’s track and field dynasty, following his passing yesterday.

Francis, who co-founded the University of Technology (UTech) Jamaica-based club in 1999 with his brother Paul, Bruce James, and David Noel, was 64.

“COMMITMENT”

MVP praised Francis, “whose unwavering commitment to excellence transformed the landscape of athletics in Jamaica and inspired generations of athletes.

“Stephen Francis changed the trajectory of Jamaican athletics for the better. He proved that Jamaican athletes, guided by Jamaican coaches, supported by Jamaican management and training in Jamaica, could become the very best in the world,” MVP President Bruce James noted in a statement yesterday.

“His vision, uncompromising pursuit of excellence, and belief in the potential of our athletes, transformed not only countless individual careers, but also the standing of Jamaican athletics on the global stage. His legacy will endure for generations.”

Francis also unearthed several of Jamaica’s current and new generation of athletes, like Kishane Thompson, Tia Clayton and Tina Clayton.

“STEADY SOURCE”

Seventeen-time World Championship medallist and eight-time Olympic medallist Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce remembered Francis as a ‘steady source of guidance’ throughout their over a decade-long relationship.

“Jamaica has lost more than one if its greatest athletics coaches. We have lost a visionary, a mentor, and a man whose influence transcended the track,” Fraser-Pryce wrote.

“He was not only my coach but a steady source of guidance during some of the most defining moments of my career. He challenged me to dream beyond my circumstances, demanded excellence with every race, and instilled in me the confidence and resilient spirit that shaped the woman I would become.

She continued, “His legacy is etched in every medal won, every record broken, and every young Jamaican athlete who dares to dream.”

“VISIONARY”

Brigitte Foster-Hylton, the 2009 World sprint hurdles champion, who is now a hurdles coach at MVP, described Francis as “a visionary coach, an exceptional mentor and perhaps the greatest architect of excellence that Jamaican sports has ever seen.

“Franno was a legendary coach for countless athletes. He was the person who challenged them to become the best version of themselves. For me, he believed in me, invested in me, and helped shape both my career and life. It is difficult to put into words what Stephen meant to me because our story together was unlike any other,” said Foster-Hylton.

She also pointed to the gamble they both took on each other.

“I had the unique privilege of being his very first professional athlete. When Stephen and I decided to embark on his journey as a professional coach, there were no guarantees. There was no international renowned MVP Track Club. There were no Olympic champions, World champions, or World record holders under his guidance,” she shared.

“There was no money, and very little support. What we had was an extraordinarily gifted young coach with extraordinary vision, remarkable intelligence, relentless discipline and unwavering belief that Jamaican athletes could become the very best in the world while training right here at home.

“I am happy I was able to spend every single day for the past few weeks with him until his last breath,” an emotional Foster-Hylton told STAR Sports.

Double Olympic sprint champion Elaine Thompson-Herah took to social media to express her sorrow, posting pictures and videos with her former coach, noting “where it all started”.

“I’m lost for words right now. Thanks for paving the way. The greatest to ever do it,” Thompson-Herah declared.

World Championship relay silver medallist, Kemba Nelson, also paid tribute to Francis, sharing an anecdote with the coach during her time at the University of Technology.

Outside of being a veteran track and field coach, Francis also had a mind for finance, graduating from the University of West Indies (UWI) with a BSc. in Management Studies and an MBA in Finance from the University of Michigan.

With his background in finance, Nelson said, Francis was the perfect tutor ahead of her university economics exam.

“Franno core memory: Had a D going into my econ exam at UTech. He sat down with me for 30 minutes before my final exam one day and explained everything that I didn’t understand off the top of his head. Passed the test and went on to doing my degree in econ. R.I.P. Franno!” Nelson shared on X (formerly known as Twitter).