Hartman resigns as UTPA track and field coach

Dave Hartman resigned as the UTPA men’s and women’s track and field/cross country head coach Tuesday to take an assistant position with the Southland Conference’s Lamar University.

Hartman has coached the track and cross country programs since early 2009.

Assistant coach Xavier Richardson has been named the interim coach for the spring season. According the athletic department’s website, Richardson is the only coach listed for the track programs. A graduate assistant, though, is expected to be named soon.

Hartman’s departure comes right as the track season is set to begin. The UTPA opens the season Friday and Saturday at a meet hosted by Texas Tech.

In an email response, the UTPA athletic department was non-committal to a coaching search.

“We have the full confidence in Xavier as the Interim head coach and will evaluate our options in early April on the direction of the head coach search,” UTPA Athletic Director Chris King said in an email.