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Just when the file cabinet for track and field is finally finding room to expand, the Henrys are too exhausted.

After seven years of broken promises, University of New Mexico track and field coach Matt Henry and associate coach Mark Henry, Matt's brother, said Monday they have lost the patience it would take to wait for the program they always envisioned.

Monday's news conference announcing their retirement - effective at the end of the 2007 season - painted a picture of a program that never received the financial boost during the regime of Rudy Davalos, former athletics director.

A well-funded track and field program has the maximum of 12.6 scholarships for the men's team, not the current eight for which UNM budgets.

That program wouldn't have had to wait until this year to see the outdoor track resurfaced.

The hampered program - prepping for the Mountain West Conference Indoor Championships taking place Thursday through Saturday at the Albuquerque indoor track - has more than made do under the Henrys. It's won 21 MWC titles between the men's and women's programs, mostly with New Mexico kids.

"We were always told they were going to happen; it didn't happen," Matt Henry said. "I think there's frustration because of a lot of things."

First-year Athletics Director Paul Krebs is ready to foot the bill for track and field, but the process is longer than Matt and Mark, twins at age 54, say they want to endure.

Krebs said the plan is to add one scholarship to the men's team in each of the next three years, maybe faster. The women's squad already has 18 scholarships in place.

Krebs acknowledges the program needs the right support to be expected to flourish, which prompts the Henrys to say the next coach will have it good under Krebs.

These coaches, however, won't reap the benefits.

"They had already made up their minds," Krebs said. "There was not a whole lot I could do to convince them otherwise. I'm more disappointed (they are leaving) for selfish reasons. I'm disappointed that future Lobo student-athletes will not have the benefit of receiving guidance and coaching from Matt and Mark. Being a head coach of a sport is demanding, so when you're not operating on a level playing field, it's hard. They should be given a lot of credit."

Surely more accolades were destined for the Henry brothers' program had they decided to stay.

Besides, 13 athletes already have qualified for an NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championship under the Henry regime. Maybe the number of All-Mountain West Conference performers would balloon from the current 17.

There could have been more MWC titles, another team to make the NCAA Cross Country Championships, more than two MWC Coach of the Year awards for Matt Henry.

But lack of patience mixed with exhaustion wasn't a winning combination to continue.

"At one time there were 10,000 fans at a track meet," Matt said. "We had those dreams, too. Maybe the new guy can do better."

Krebs said he plans to begin looking for a replacement staff in the coming months. There's an easy blueprint to follow - which candidate can match, possibly eclipse, the accomplishments of the Henrys.

Despite leaving the program while it's still shining, these track junkies from the Õ70s might not give up cleats for the cheap seats.

Mark Henry said if the right opportunity arises to coach somewhere else, they might take it. The two have lived in Albuquerque their entire lives, so leaving might be an arduous task.

Helping brother Pat coach national power Texas A&M is out of the question, Mark said.

One thing is certain: This coaching bond of 15 years will likely not break.

"I love him more than anybody could ever know," Mark said. "We seldom fight; we're on the same wavelength. It can't get any better than that."