It is with deep sadness that we reflect on the passing of Coach Vigil on July 19, 2025. We were honored to know him personally. We will forever be grateful for the opportunity to publish his biography. We mourn with all the Vigilantes, including our friend, author Pat Melgares. Read our tribute to Coach at our blog.
Dr. Joe I. Vigil—known simply as “Coach” to virtually everybody he met—rose from poverty to become a towering figure in the running world. Coach won 19 national championships and coached 425 All-Americans, 22 Olympians…and an army of “Vigilantes” who seek to emulate his unique blend of compassion, competitive spirit, and commitment to others.
In this long-overdue biography about America’s preeminent distance-running coach, award-winning author and Vigilante Pat Melgares shares Coach Vigil’s tale not just through the consummate storyteller’s own words but also through those of more than 50 family members, friends, former runners, and foes who have been shaped by his presence over a lifetime.
Chasing Excellence brought home the gold in the International Latino Book Awards in the Sports category. The award is presented starting at 22:04 in this video. It also won a national competition for books published independently in 2020, winning the Biography category in the Independent Book Publishers Association’s annual contest. And it was a finalist in the Colorado Book Awards in the biography category.
Coach Vigil was driven by a persistent desire to learn, a deep faith in people, and an unwavering loyalty to his hometown of Alamosa, Colorado. His life was an American dream—and his story is a must-read for anyone who loves an underdog or seeks to understand the timeless qualities that forge a leader. “Chasing Excellence” was Coach Vigil’s mantra for decades, for himself and those he teaches. Follow in his footsteps as you learn to chase excellence for yourself.