KINGSTON — Stephen Francis, a Jamaican track and field coach and co-founder of the Maximising Velocity & Power Track & Field Club, died late on Saturday, July 4, 2026, at the age of 64. The Maximising Velocity & Power Track & Field Club announced his death on Sunday. The cause of his death was not disclosed.

Francis co-founded the club in 1999. Bruce James, President of MVP, stated, "Stephen Francis changed the trajectory of Jamaican athletics for the better. He proved that Jamaican athletes, guided by Jamaican coaches, supported by Jamaican management, and training in Jamaica, could become the very best in the world."

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness offered condolences following Francis's death. Holness said that Francis's choice to train Jamaican athletes in Jamaica "helped shape one of the greatest legacies in track and field and inspired countless athletes to believe in themselves and pursue excellence." He added, "Jamaica has lost a remarkable son whose impact will be felt for generations."

Francis coached several notable athletes, including Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Elaine Thompson-Herah, Shericka Jackson, Asafa Powell, and Kishane Thompson. In 2017, Francis was awarded the Order of Jamaica. World Athletics also issued a statement regarding his death.

Why It Matters

Stephen Francis's death marks the passing of a figure central to Jamaican athletics. His establishment of the Maximising Velocity & Power Track & Field Club in 1999 provided a framework for training top-tier athletes within Jamaica. The condolences extended by the Prime Ministers of Jamaica and Barbados, along with a statement from World Athletics, indicate his influence on both national and international levels in the sport.