Legendary Jamaican track and field coach Vincent Stephen “Franno” Francis, one of the central figures behind the country’s golden era in athletics, has died after a period of illness.

He died late Saturday, a day after celebrating his 64th birthday.

Francis, co-founder and Head Coach of the MVP Track & Field Club, had been battling health issues in recent months. The club confirmed last week that he was receiving medical care in hospital, as concern grew across Jamaica’s athletics community around the coach’s health.

A sharp, uncompromising and deeply influential coach, Francis helped reshape Jamaica’s sprinting landscape through the MVP programme, which he co-founded in 1999. The club became one of the world’s most successful track and field programmes, producing and guiding a long list of Olympic and World Championship medallists.

Among the athletes associated with Francis and MVP are Asafa Powell, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Elaine Thompson-Herah, Shericka Jackson, Brigitte Foster-Hylton, Melaine Walker, Michael Frater, Sherone Simpson, Kerron Stewart and Tajay Gayle.

Known for his blunt assessments, technical brilliance and fierce belief in Jamaica-based coaching, Francis was figural in helping to prove that the country’s best athletes could remain at home, train under Jamaican coaches and dominate the world stage.

His passing is expected to spark tributes from across the local and international track and field community.

A central architect of Jamaica’s athletics prowess, Francis’ contribution to the sport earned him major national recognition. He was conferred with the Order of Distinction in the rank of Officer for service to athletics, and in 2017 was appointed to the Order of Jamaica for outstanding contribution to track and field through coaching.