EDMOND (July 27) - Paul Parent, a former track & field coach at the University of Central Oklahoma, died Wednesday. He was 72.

Parent was hired by Central Oklahoma in 1979 and coached the men's track & field program for 22 years until Central ended the program in 2001. Parent also coached the women's program from 1986-2001 and coached the cross country programs as well.

Parent began his coaching career in 1966 at the high school level. He coached at Broken Arrow, Verdigris, Heritage Hall, Perry and Putnam City West.

Parent was recently promoted to Director of Track & Field at Southwestern Christian University in Bethany, after establishing the program and serving as the school's head coach since 2004.

At UCO, Parent ran a winning program. He coached 60 All-Americans on the NAIA level including two national championship relay teams. He coached 19 All-Americans on the Division II level (1990-2001). In 1994, Joe Aska won the Indoor National Championship in the 55-meter dash under Parent's leadership.

Cross Country also saw success under Parent. The men's team won three district titles and two Lone Star Conference championships. The women's team also won a Lone Star Conference title.

In all, Parent was awarded District 9 Coach of the Year six times: Cross Country (3), Men's track (2), Women's track (1). He was also the Lone Star men's cross country Coach of the Year in 1989 and 1990.

A native of Grants, N.M., Parent was a four-sport standout in high school and enjoyed a stellar track career at Northeastern State, where he received his Bachelor's degree.

Parent was married (Pat), and had three children (Hillary, Matt and Brannan). Each of his three children got into coaching track & field.