The University of Arizona once had a live “Wildcat” mascot; however, the current mascot ─ with a few changes that include wife, Wilma, along the way ─ Wilbur the Wildcat has been a favorite around Tucson for more than 60 years.

You might imagine the stress and feeling of upheaval when Fred Harvey resigned as Arizona’s track and field coach last month. Harvey had six full-time assistant coaches. What would happen to them? A head coach’s departure usually means a period of unemployment for the staff.

For Francesca Green, Harvey’s retirement has turned out to be a triumph. She was hired last week to be the head coach of UTEP’s track and field and cross country teams, a promotion that seemed inevitable throughout her career. It’s somewhat of a surprise she wasn’t promoted to replace Harvey.

A highly-skilled sprints/hurdles coach who was herself an elite-level competitor at Washington State 25 years ago, Green worked every conceivable job in 21 years at Arizona from director of operations to associate head coach to the unofficial role as second-mother and shoulder-to-cry on for UA track athletes. Her personality is such a strength. Said Harvey: “I’m like a proud dad. She has been groomed to run her own program.’’

Although track and field doesn’t get a ton of attention at Arizona, Green left her impact in the UA athletic department. She is one of just five assistant coaches in UA history to spend 20 or more years on the job.

She joins a select class that includes swimming’s Rick DeMont, 26 years; track’s Bob Myers, also 26 years; softball’s Larry Ray, 21 years; baseball’s Jim Wing, 20 years. Her name will be remembered with a touch of class, along with other long-tenured UA assistant coaches such as basketball’s Jim Rosborough, baseball’s Jerry Stitt and football’s Sharkey Price and Larry Mac Duff.