coaching staff Vega was the 2005 Midwest Region medalist, joining two-time individual champion Andrew Carlson and Mead, as Gophers to take the prize at the regional meet. Vega was honored as 2005 Midwest Region Runner of the Year and later ended his Gopher career as a four-time all-region performer. Carlson led the charge in leading Minnesota to the Midwest Region crown in 2004, outscoring its nearest competitor by 31 points and landing a school-record five runners on the all-region team. In 2001, Minnesota won the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships, while in 1999 the competition was titled the NCAA District V Championships. Plasencia was honored as the Region Coach of the Year after all three titles in 1999, 2001 and 2004. Competing in one of the nation’s toughest cross country conferences, the Golden Gophers have annually finished among the upper echelon of the Big Ten Conference. Last year, four Big Ten schools ran in the NCAA Championships. In 2004, seven Big Ten schools advanced to the NCAAs, matching the record number of conference teams that competed in the national meet in 2002. In July of 2008, Plasencia was elevated to position of Minnesota’s head coach for the men’s cross country/track program. His first season as head track coach turned out to be one of the finest in school history as well, with the Gophers winning indoor and outdoor Big Ten team titles. Plasencia was honored as the Big Ten Coach of the Year for both the indoor and outdoor seasons. Prior to being named the head coach, Plasencia has served as an assistant track coach since joining the Minnesota staff in 1996. Before becoming the eighth head coach in Minnesota cross country history and succeeding legendary Gopher coach Roy Griak, Plasencia gained coaching experience working with world-class athletes. In addition to coaching himself to two Olympic games Plasencia advised training partners 1984 Olympian Don Clary and Mike Bilyeu, who finished sixth in the 5,000 meters at the 1992 Olympic Trials, on their training. Plasencia was able to successfully mesh his expertise as a coach with a successful running career. He ran competitively from 1972 to 2001, and remains one of Minnesota’s most decorated runners. Plasencia was a three-time cross country and two-time track All-American in the late 70s. He served as the team captain in 1977 and won the Fred O. Watson Award for the most valuable Golden Gopher cross country runner in 1976, ‘77 and ‘78. Plasencia still holds four Minnesota cross country records, three of which were accomplished at a championship event. Plasencia was inducted into Minnesota’s “M” Club Hall of Fame in 1994. Plasencia’s competitive career did not end when he completed his Golden Gopher career. Plasencia went on to represent the United States in the 10,000 meters at both the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea, and the 1992 Games in Barcelona, Spain. He was also the 1990 U.S. 10,000-meters champion. Plasencia nearly made his third straight trip to Olympic Games but finished fourth in the 1996 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials and fifth in the 5,000 meters at the Track and Field Trials. In addition to his Olympic experiences, Plasencia represented the U.S. in four World Championships. His top finishes were an eighth-place finish in the 10,000-meters in 1987 and a 10th-place showing in the marathon in 1995. He was inducted into the Minnesota Track and Field Hall of Fame in the fall of 1996. Plasencia earned his bachelor’s degree in business from Minnesota in 1979. He later earned a master’s degree from Oregon in 1987. Prior to joining the Golden Gopher staff, he served as the director of sports respiratory medicine for Allergy and Asthma Associates in Eugene, Ore. He also worked as a cardiac rehabilitation therapist at Eugene’s Sacred Heart Hospital. Plasencia and his wife Theresa reside in Shoreview, Minn. They have two sons, Ryan and Alex.
Plasencia At A Glance Directed the Golden Gophers to 10 NCAA Championshps appearances, ninth consecutive from 1997-2005, with six top 20 national finishes and top-25 national finishes nine times Led Minnesota to its third-highest NCAA finish (eighth place in 2007) in school history Led the Golden Gophers to the NCAA Regional title in 1999, 2001 and 2004 Coached three Gophers (Chris Rombough, Hassan Mead and Forrest Tahdooahnippah) to All-America honors in 2007 - the most in a single season in Minnesota history Coached Chris Rombough to repeat All-America honors (2006, 2007) and Hassan Mead (2007) to the first All-America honor earned by a freahman Coached Chris Rombough to Big Ten medalist honors in 2006 Guided Andrew Carlson to All-America honors in 2002 and 2004, becoming the first Gopher two-time All-American since 1984 Three-time NCAA Midwest Region Coach-of-the-Year (1999, 2001, 2004) Member of the 1988 & 1992 U.S. Olympic Teams 1990 USA 10K champion Five-time All-American at Minnesota Minnesota cross country school record holder in the five mile, and six mile race distances Member of the University of Minnesota’s “M” Club Hall of Fame Member of the Minnesota Track & Field Hall of Fame
Plasencia was Minnesota’s most valuable cross country runner for three consecutive years, earning All-America honors twice. The Plasnecia Famiy
11 * Minnesota Men’s Cross Country