The ALL-USA teams are coordinated by Fred Baer, founder, Track and Field Writers of America. Girls selections by Mike Kennedy, high school editor of Track and Field News.
Brian Fitzgerald (Photo: Lauri Scott)
Brian FitzGerald of Rio Mesa (Oxnard, Calif.) has been named the 2015-16 American Family Insurance ALL-USA Girls Track and Field Coach of the Year.
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Long Sprints and Middle Distance
COACH PROFILE:
Name: Brian FitzGerald
School: Rio Mesa (Oxnard, Calif.)
In 36 years coaching track and field at Rio Mesa, Brian FitzGerald has produced some of the USA’s top athletes, including two former athletes of the year in sprinters Marion Jones and Angela Burnham.
His latest elite sprinter is Zaria Francis, who jumped onto the all-time top 20 high school list in the 100 meters as a junior last year and was an ALL-USA selection. She was the California (CIF) state champion at both 100 and 200 meters (repeating a feat formerly accomplished by Burnham and Jones). This year Francis won the 60 meters at the New Balance Indoor Nationals.
Burnham, who won five state titles (including 100 and 200 doubles in 1988 and 1989), helped the Spartans win a state championship in 1988. Jones was a double 100 and 200 state winner for Rio Mesa in both 1990 and 1991.
FitzGerald, 59, has spent practically his entire life at Rio Mesa, competing there as an all-league football player and track athlete and graduating in 1975. His college degrees are from UCLA.
Although he formally retired in June, FitzGerald plans to continue serving on the CIF Southern Section track and field committee.