Kingston, 15 August 2026 – The Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange, has announced that a new government scholarship will be named for the late Jamaican coach, Stephen Francis.

The Minister made the announcement on Saturday (today) at the Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Mr Francis at the National Indoor Sports Centre in Kingston.

Minister Grange said Mr Francis, known as Franno, was “among the most brilliant Jamaicans in any field” and that he used his “mind power to shape actions and results.”

The Minister said Mr Francis “helped to shape athletes and contributed significantly to Jamaica’s remarkable place in the world athletics.” She said his contribution must never be forgotten.

Minister Grange said “the Government will have discussions with UTech and with Paul [Francis, Stephen’s brother] to see how we can ensure that there is a lasting tribute to Franno. And we are going to be offering a scholarship to a student-athlete at the University of Technology. Those details we will announce at a later date.”

Mr Francis was Head Coach at UTech for 17 years where he was credited with establishing the University as the ‘home of world class athletes’. He was also the leader of the MVP Track Club that trained many of Jamaica’s athletics champions including Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce, Asafa Powell, Elaine Thompson Herah, Shericka Jakcson, Brigitte Foster Hylton, Kishane Thompson, and many others from across the world.

The Honourable Vincent Stephen Francis passed away in July, one day after his 63rd birthday.

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