Ron Mann is one of those people driven by inspiration, driving others to aspire and achieve. If the University of Louisville is quietly becoming a nation power in track and field, Ron Mann is the drivinmanng force.

Heard Mann speak at a U of L function a couple of weeks ago. Half the audience was ready to suit up after he spoke. He’s that good.

Mann has been on the job for four years now at the University of Louisville, and has already coached 11 All-Americans, won two Big East team championships and produced 36 conference champions (23 men, 13 women).

He moves to the world stage for a couple of weeks in August when he assumes a position as a Team USA coach for long distance runners at the 2008 Olympics, which will be held in Bejing, China, coaching the middle distance runners (800m to 5000m).

Eyes on the gold, of course.

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Nine Straight — Pitcher Matt Lea, a 6-5 right-handed sophomore(photo), won his fourth game without alea.jpeg loss as the Baseball Cards won their ninth game in a row Wednesday, defeating Butler 8-1. Lea completed five innings after getting off to a shaky start, allowing the first inning run on four hits and a walk.

Shortstop John Dao, a player who waited patiently on the bench last season, has been on fire at the plate lately, raising his batting average to .349, second only to Chris Dominguez’ .363 mark. Dao hit his second home run to open the fourth inning. He then singled to lead off the sixth, stole second and moved to third on a throwing error, before a fourth Bulldog wild pitch made it 5-1 Cards.

Cards are now 33-16, with seven games remaining.

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Big East Softball Tournament — The Lady Cards host the Big East Softball Tournament at Dan Ulmer Field this week. The fifth-seeded Cards (20-9) play their first game against Notre Dame at 6:30 p.m. in a rematch of the 2007 championship game in which the Cards defeated the Irish at South Bend. U of L is led offensively by sophomore catcher Melissa Roth who is batting .369, with 20 doubles, four triples, eight stolen bases and 42 runs.

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By Charlie Springer

Charlie Springer is a former Louisville editor and sportswriter, a public affairs consultant, a UofL grad and longtime fan.

One thought on “Ron Mann Aspires, Inspires”
  1. Ron Mann is quite the coach…why doesn’t the CJ do a story on this guy? Quite a resume’. Tom Jurich does it again – did you see the list of Final Rankings for all U of L/UK Sports/Teams for 2007 on Card Chronicle? UK unranked in every sport – UL ranked in every sport. Got Jurich?

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