Western Mustangs Sports

Bob Vigars, from St. Thomas, Ontario, is the cross-country head coach for the Western Mustangs.

He earned his B.Sc. from Southern Illinois in 1967, and subsequently earned his M.A. from Cal State- Los Angeles in 1968. Since then, he has been with Western University as a head coach as well as a tenured professor.

In 1968, he was appointed head coach of the men's cross country team and part-time instructor in Physical Education. The following year in1969 he was made a full-time lecturer and coach. He would be promoted to
Assistant Professor in 1972 and Associate Professor in 1986. His academic duties include teaching on Sports Biomechanics, Track & Field Skills, Coaching Theory and Games of Lower Organization.

Record & Distinctions:
- Longest serving head coach, among all coaches in all sports in Western Mustangs history. He is beginning his 46th season this fall, 2013.
- Longest serving coach in Western Mustangs women’s sports history. He is beginning his 45th season in the 2013-14 school year.
- Holds the Western Mustangs all-time record among all UWO coaches for the most sport teams coached (as head coach) with a total of six (6):

1. Men’s Cross Country [1968 to present: 45th season, fall 2013]
2. Women’s Cross Country [1972 to present: 41st season, fall 2013]
3. Men’s Track & Field [1968 to 1999]
4. Women’s Track & Field [1972 to 1989]
5. Men’s Gymnastics [1969 to 1972]
6. Women’s Gymnastics [1969 to 1972]

- Holds the Western record among all coaches in all sports in Western Mustangs history for the most championships won with a total of forty three (43)
- 11 CIS National Team Championships in Cross Country
- 3 CIS National Team Championships in Track & Field
- 16 OUA Team Championships in Cross Country
- 12 OUA Team Championships in Track & Field
- 1 OUA Team Championship in Gymnastics
- Ranked 2nd among CIS Cross Country coaches all-time with 11 CIS National team titles
- Inducted into UWO Cross Country/Track & Field Hall of Fame in 2000 and inducted into Western’s All                        
  Sports Hall of Fame (W Club) in 2001.
- Head Coach of Team Canada for 2010 FISU World University Championship in Cross Country, where
  Canada had its best results in WUC history.
- Coaching Win/Loss Record in combined men’s + women’s Cross Country from 1970-2011 inclusive:
- 82% versus Canadian teams [2446 wins / 524 losses]
- 71% versus USA teams [1600 wins / 641 losses]
- 77% versus CDN & USA combined [4046 wins / 1165 losses]

Founder/Innovator:
-1970 Founder of London- Western Track & Field Club
- 1972-73 Author of inaugural OUA T&F Championships Playing Regulations
- 1977 Founder of CIS Cross Country Coaches Association
- 1979 Founder CIS Track & Field Coaches Association
- 1980-81 Author of inaugural CIS Track & Field Playing Regulations
- 1995 book author “Track & Field Curriculum for Physical Education”  

Updated on April 26th, 2013 by A. Michalik