The MVP Track and Field Club had paid heartfelt tribute to their iconic co-founder and technical director Stephen ‘Franno’ Francis for his part in revolutionising Jamaica’s track and field dynasty following his passing on Saturday night.Francis, who co-founded the University of Technology (UTech) Jamaica-based club in 1999 with his brother Paul, Bruce James and David Noel, was 64.MVP said Francis’ “unwavering commitment to excellence transformed the landscape of athletics in Jamaica and inspired generations of athletes”.“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. His vision, uncompromising pursuit of excellence and belief in the potential of our athletes, transformed not only countless individual careers, but also the standing of Jamaican athletics on the global stage.  His legacy will endure for generations,” MVP President Bruce James noted in a statement yesterday.The 2009 World sprint hurdles champion Brigitte Foster-Hylton, now a hurdles coach at MVP, described Francis “as a visionary coach, an exceptional mentor and perhaps the greatest architect of excellence that Jamaican sports has ever seen. Franno was a legendary coach for countless athletes. He was the person who challenged them to become the best version of themselves. For me, he believed in me, invested in me, and helped shape both my career and life. It is difficult to put into words what Stephen meant to me because our story together was unlike any other,” said Foster-Hylton.She also pointed to the gamble they both took on each other:“I had the unique privilege of being his very first professional athlete. When Stephen and I decided to embark on his journey as a professional coach, there were no guarantees. There was no international renowned MVP Track Club. There were no Olympic champions, world champions, or world record holders under his guidance. There was no money and very little support. What we had was an extraordinary gifted young coach with extraordinary vision, remarkable intelligence, relentless discipline and unwavering belief that Jamaican athletes could become the very best in the world while training right here at home. I am happy I was able to spend every single day for the past few weeks with him until his last breath,” an emotional Foster-Hylton told The Gleaner. World Athletics said it was deeply saddened by Francis’ passing.  The world governing body for track and field hailed Francis “for dedicating his life to the development of athletics in Jamaica, helping to guide multiple global super stars”.The Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) and the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association, (JAAA), two of the local governing bodies who Francis has locked horns with during his illustrious career, also joined those paying tribute to a man who was never shy to express his criticisms publicly.“We may have thought he was a study in complexity, but Stephen was simply Stephen.  A forthright heart that spoke transparently. A mind that was cultured in academia and steep in athletics and now a soul swift in flight.  As we iconise his landmark sporting achievements, let us reverence the spirit of a man that was true to himself.  The JOA respects the man who stood his ground and has left indelible footprints in the national soil,” said JOA President Christopher Samuda.The JAAA described Francis’ passing as a “monumental loss”.“Stephen Francis was a titan of track and field, whose visionary leadership and unparalleled coaching brilliance transformed the landscape of Jamaican track and field. As the co-founder and head coach of MVP Track Club, he revolutionised local training, proving that world-class athletes could be nurtured and achieve global dominance right here on home soil. His meticulous approach to technique, unwavering discipline and uncanny ability to spot and develop raw talent earned him a rightful place among the greatest coaches in sports history,” the local governing body said.In their statement yesterday, MVP said funeral arrangements and details of a thanksgiving service will be announced at a later date.