University of Memphis Athletics
Frenette Named Track And Field Assistant Coach
Sep 22, 2015 | Men's Cross Country, Men's Track and Field, Women's Cross Country, Women's Track and Field
Coaching veteran will oversee cross country, distance runners.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Kenneth Frenette, a 20-plus year collegiate track and field/cross country coaching veteran, joins the University of Memphis track and field/cross country program as an assistant coach, Tigers head coach Kevin Robinson announced Tuesday.
Frenette will oversee the cross country squads and will coach the distance runners in the indoor and outdoor seasons.
"I'm pleased to welcome Ken Frenette to our staff," said Robinson. "He's been in collegiate track and field coaching for several years, so Ken is experienced and knowledgeable. As an athlete, Ken was an elite 10k and marathon runner.
"He brings a wealth of knowledge not only from the coach's and athlete's standpoints, but also from an academic perspective with his background in exercise science and physiology. Ken is a great fit for our program, and I'm glad to have him on board."
Frenette comes to Memphis from Valley City State University in Valley City, N.D., where he served as the Vikings track and field head coach since January of 2012. During his second cross country season in 2013, Frenette led the men's team to the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference/North Star Athletic Association (MCAC/NSAA) championship and, in doing so, earned the MCAC/NSAA Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year honor. In 2014, he guided Richard Langdeaux to the MCAC/NSAA men's cross country individual crown.Â
Under his direction, Frenette had seven NAIA track and field qualifiers. Among those seven NAIA qualifiers was two-time national champion Darien Moore, who won the weight throw crowns at the 2012 and 2013 indoor meets.
"I'm excited to be at Memphis," said Frenette. "I'm grateful for the opportunity to join Coach Robinson's staff. I already had the chance to meet the runners, and they are going to be a great group to work with. I'm ready to get started."
Prior to his Valley City State stint, Frenette spent over 20 years with the Campbell University track and field/cross country program. He served as the track and field head coach from 1989-2003 and cross country head coach from 1989-2011.
From 1994-2010, Campbell competed in the Atlantic Sun Conference, and under Frenette's tutelage, 37 cross country runners earned All-A-Sun honors. In the 17 seasons in the A-Sun, the Frenette-led Camels finished in the top-five of the league 13 times. He guided the men's squad to the 1998 A-Sun team crown, and his 1994 and 1995 men's squads were A-Sun runners-up. Frenette was twice honored as the league's Coach of the Year for the women in 1994 and the men in 1998.
Prior to 1994, Campbell ran in the Big South Conference, and during that time, Frenette coached 14 runners that received all-league recognition. Frenette's 1991 and 1993 men's squads placed second at the Big South Conference Championships, and his pupil, David Pitaro, earned the 1991 Big South Conference Men's Runner of the Year award. For his efforts, Frenette was named the 1991 Big South Conference Coach of the Year for both men's and women's cross country.
Frenette's success continued in Campbell's indoor and outdoor seasons in the Atlantic Sun Conference from 1996-2003. He had 73 track and field student-athletes earn All-Atlantic Sun honors and 23 won A-Sun individual championships. When the program competed in the Big South Conference, he had 12 student-athletes receive all-league accolades. At the inaugural 1994 Big South Conference Championships, five of his student-athletes won individual titles.
In addition to his coaching duties, Frenette was an exercise science instructor at Campbell from 1992-2011.
Frenette earned both his bachelor's (1988) and master's (1992) degrees from Campbell University, located in Buies Creek, N.C. As an undergraduate at Campbell, he was a member of the Camels track and field/cross country program. Frenette was the 1986 and 1987 Big South Conference Men's Cross Country champion, and he was named to the league's All-Decade Cross Country Team from 1980-89. A four-year cross country team captain from 1984-87, he also received All-Big South Conference distinction all four seasons.
Frenette competed at the international level as well. He was a 1992 Canadian Olympic Trials qualifier in the 10,000 meters and finished sixth in the marathon at the 1991 Pan American Games. From 1990-93, he ranked in the top-50 in the United States, and from 1988-94, ranked in the top-15 in Canada in the 10,000 meters. Frenette placed sixth in the 10,000 meters at the 1991 Canadian Track and Field Championships.
Frenette will oversee the cross country squads and will coach the distance runners in the indoor and outdoor seasons.
"I'm pleased to welcome Ken Frenette to our staff," said Robinson. "He's been in collegiate track and field coaching for several years, so Ken is experienced and knowledgeable. As an athlete, Ken was an elite 10k and marathon runner.
"He brings a wealth of knowledge not only from the coach's and athlete's standpoints, but also from an academic perspective with his background in exercise science and physiology. Ken is a great fit for our program, and I'm glad to have him on board."
Frenette comes to Memphis from Valley City State University in Valley City, N.D., where he served as the Vikings track and field head coach since January of 2012. During his second cross country season in 2013, Frenette led the men's team to the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference/North Star Athletic Association (MCAC/NSAA) championship and, in doing so, earned the MCAC/NSAA Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year honor. In 2014, he guided Richard Langdeaux to the MCAC/NSAA men's cross country individual crown.Â
Under his direction, Frenette had seven NAIA track and field qualifiers. Among those seven NAIA qualifiers was two-time national champion Darien Moore, who won the weight throw crowns at the 2012 and 2013 indoor meets.
"I'm excited to be at Memphis," said Frenette. "I'm grateful for the opportunity to join Coach Robinson's staff. I already had the chance to meet the runners, and they are going to be a great group to work with. I'm ready to get started."
Prior to his Valley City State stint, Frenette spent over 20 years with the Campbell University track and field/cross country program. He served as the track and field head coach from 1989-2003 and cross country head coach from 1989-2011.
From 1994-2010, Campbell competed in the Atlantic Sun Conference, and under Frenette's tutelage, 37 cross country runners earned All-A-Sun honors. In the 17 seasons in the A-Sun, the Frenette-led Camels finished in the top-five of the league 13 times. He guided the men's squad to the 1998 A-Sun team crown, and his 1994 and 1995 men's squads were A-Sun runners-up. Frenette was twice honored as the league's Coach of the Year for the women in 1994 and the men in 1998.
Prior to 1994, Campbell ran in the Big South Conference, and during that time, Frenette coached 14 runners that received all-league recognition. Frenette's 1991 and 1993 men's squads placed second at the Big South Conference Championships, and his pupil, David Pitaro, earned the 1991 Big South Conference Men's Runner of the Year award. For his efforts, Frenette was named the 1991 Big South Conference Coach of the Year for both men's and women's cross country.
Frenette's success continued in Campbell's indoor and outdoor seasons in the Atlantic Sun Conference from 1996-2003. He had 73 track and field student-athletes earn All-Atlantic Sun honors and 23 won A-Sun individual championships. When the program competed in the Big South Conference, he had 12 student-athletes receive all-league accolades. At the inaugural 1994 Big South Conference Championships, five of his student-athletes won individual titles.
In addition to his coaching duties, Frenette was an exercise science instructor at Campbell from 1992-2011.
Frenette earned both his bachelor's (1988) and master's (1992) degrees from Campbell University, located in Buies Creek, N.C. As an undergraduate at Campbell, he was a member of the Camels track and field/cross country program. Frenette was the 1986 and 1987 Big South Conference Men's Cross Country champion, and he was named to the league's All-Decade Cross Country Team from 1980-89. A four-year cross country team captain from 1984-87, he also received All-Big South Conference distinction all four seasons.
Frenette competed at the international level as well. He was a 1992 Canadian Olympic Trials qualifier in the 10,000 meters and finished sixth in the marathon at the 1991 Pan American Games. From 1990-93, he ranked in the top-50 in the United States, and from 1988-94, ranked in the top-15 in Canada in the 10,000 meters. Frenette placed sixth in the 10,000 meters at the 1991 Canadian Track and Field Championships.
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