10/1/2007 11:46:47 AM
As part of the 25th Anniversary of
Women’s Athletics celebration in the Minnesota
Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC), a series of profiles
will be written about individuals from all member institutions
who have made a significant impact on women’s athletics. This
profile features University St. Thomas head women’s cross
country and track and field coach Joe Sweeney.
To think of St.
Thomas cross country and track and field is to
think of Joe Sweeney. Coach Sweeney has been leading
the St. Thomas women’s
track and field and cross country teams for the past 28
years. To say these programs have seen their share of success
would be an understatement. With Coach Sweeney at the helm the
Tommies have won 55 MIAC championships. Between indoor and outdoor
track and field, St. Thomas has
won an unprecedented 42 out of a possible 48 conference
championships. If that is not impressive enough, Sweeney also
coached the Tommies to five national championships in cross country
(AIAW-1981, NCAA-1982, 1984, 1986, and 1987). “Joe
is the essence the athletic experience at St.
Thomas. He brings that sense of tradition and
expectation, that sense of being a part of something bigger than
your self. I’m very proud to have Joe as a member of our
athletic staff here at St.
Thomas,” stated Associate Athletic Director and
Senior Woman Administrator JoAnn Andregg.
Not only has coach Sweeney made a significant impact on
hundreds of women’s lives through their athletic experiences
atSt. Thomas but he has also made a significant impact on the
athletic department as a whole. In fall of 1977 the University
St. Thomas began to offer sporting opportunities for women. A mere
four years later, Coach Sweeney and the women’s cross country
team brought home the first ever national championship in the
history of St. Thomas. Coach Sweeney remembers that first national
championship fondly, “That first championship
in Idaho wasn’t expected. Upon our return, we were
met by a crowd of well wishers which included the St.
Thomas athletic director and my former track coach who were
there to greet us with cheers and handshakes. That first one was
very special.” Coach Sweeney continued to say, “That
first national championship meant a lot in breaking down barriers
and raising the bar at St. Thomas.”
Some may wonder, what is the key to such a successful
program? When asked this question Coach Sweeney simply responds,
“I have high expectations of my student-athletes, I have a
great staff, and St. Thomas is
an excellent school that naturally attracts people.” Sweeney
is quick to talk about the great coaching staffs that he has had
the opportunity to work with over the years. He takes pride in
having played a role in developing some very talented assistant
coaches into successful head coaches. Sweeney even goes so far as
to say, “I like to recruit top coaches, not necessarily top
talent. The ability to recruit and take care of our resources, to
manage the whole program and develop individuals, is what really
makes things work for us.”
Sweeney also believes that a key ingredient in his
success has been, “a fierce loyalty to the school.” A
1977 St. Thomasgraduate and former
Tommie cross country and track and field student-athlete, Sweeney
takes pride in coaching at his alma mater and being able to
communicate the St.
Thomas tradition to each and every one of his
student-athletes. The athletic tradition, the reputation of majors
on campus, and an all around positive campus environment is what
really makesSt. Thomas such a
special place for Coach Sweeney. Additionally, Sweeney tells
recruits that, “This is one of the strongest conferences in
the country. It really is a nice mix of schools and
competition.”
When asked to reflect on the past 25 years of
women’s athletics Coach Sweeney had this to say, “In
1978, St. Thomaswas really ahead of
the game. They made an early investment in women’s athletics
and that investment paid off for us immensely. Over a span of eight
years we won five national titles and had three runner-up
finishes.” When asked about the future of women’s
athletics, Sweeney commented that he can only see things getting
better. He said that among colleges and universities everywhere,
recruiting has changed dramatically over the past 25 years but
at St. Thomas the recruiting
messages is still the same, “Our goal is to give a tremendous
athletic experience plus a high quality education and campus
experience. We want to find those high caliber athletes who want
the whole package.”