As a coach, Scott Fangman hoped to reach new heights. But he never dreamed that he would fall so hard and so fast.

The University of Indianapolis director of track and field and cross country fell off his two-story roof while clearing snow earlier this season, breaking his pelvis in four places. In his many years of recreational mountain climbing, Fangman never experienced a fall like that one. His program, however, scaled a precipice when it earned its first women’s indoor conference championship just weeks after the accident.

“At least I can feel confident that when I am not there they can still do what needs to be done,” Fangman said. “I encourage the kids to do a lot on their own, so a lot of our success is directly because of them and the responsibility that falls in their laps. They know what they have to do.”

Fangman has been at the head of the Greyhounds’ track and field program for 14 years. He is a four-time Great Lakes Valley Conference coach of the year, having most recently earned the honor for the women’s indoor season this year. He has led both the men’s and women’s teams to conference titles during his tenure, and his program has produced five individual national championships and numerous all-Americans.

He was in attendance when his women’s indoor squad took the 2009 GLVC championship February 28, a trip that Fangman admits may have set his recovery back a bit since it caused a blood clot that returned him to the hospital.

Fangman won’t be in Houston this week to oversee his five track and field athletes competing at the nationals because he is under a doctor’s order to stay in Indianapolis.

“We know we will still have his support and his spirit with us when we compete, even though he won’t be with us,” said senior Amy Schmitz, a national qualifier in the women’s weight throw.  “We know how to represent the team as if he were with us. It’s just a bummer because we love to have him and his quirkiness around us.”

Along with Schmitz, Indianapolis features Andrea Horban in the shot put and Emily Schaf in the high jump. The men’s team includes Willie Little and Sam Elmore in the weight throw. All five Greyhounds are fifth-year seniors, and Horban previously won a shot put national title in 2006.

“There is a lot of maturity on the team and a lot of times they don’t get the credit they deserve,” Fangman said. “I worry for them, but I know they will be fine.”

Fangman plans to keep up with his squad and the rest of the indoor track and field championships through the NCAA’s live Webcasts. He knows his team will represent the Greyhounds and his program well, but he regrets not being able to be a part of the festival’s atmosphere.

“Of course I just want to be with them,” Fangman said. “But I have to use my head and think about my health. They will get it done; I know they will. It is going to be exciting.”

The track and field athletes will try to do their part in Fangman’s climb back to the top with another showing like the one at the GLVC championships, Schmitz said.

“Us winning conference made him realize we weren't sidetracked,” Schmitz said. “We were saddened, but not sidetracked. It was our goal all year to win conference, and to see us accomplish that really gave him an emotional lift.”

Hopefully the conference boost and whatever his athletes can accomplish at the national level will keep Fangman on top for a little while longer – without falling.