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We kept expecting, even hoping, that Matt Henry would change his mind.

That the Lobos track coach's love for his school and his state would force him to stay in that almost-forgotten and usually ignored corner of the University of New Mexico athletics complex where most (90-plus percent) of the jocks who run around are New Mexicans.

You hoped Henry would be willing to ignore the frustrations of an underfunded program and continue to lead the charge of Lobos up a hill that UNM track probably never will conquer - the hill leading to NCAA glory and titles.

But success at UNM track is measured by a tape that doesn't apply to the real powers of the sport.

The big boys of track can recruit just about anywhere they want - state or country.

They have grander facilities, more money, more scholarships, more hope, more concern, more of a future.

At UNM, the measure of success for Henry might come from this simple statement: When he takes his Lobos to the 2007 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Sacramento next week, all five of his athletes will have come from New Mexico high schools.

"We were told to build with New Mexico kids, but that's also what we wanted to do," said Henry. "We always wanted the New Mexico athlete to feel they had a place to run over here, if they wanted to stay home.

"It's a good thing to see all these New Mexico kids in the NCAA."

In a way, this is a great tribute to Henry because when he came to UNM seven seasons back, he was told to go to his corner, don't make any waves and do the best you can with local talent.

And Henry did good.

In his second season at UNM, he was named the men's Mountain West Conference Coach of The Year for outdoor track.

His Lobos progressed every season, and in June his program will have its most participants ever at the national meet.

And when that meet is over, Henry no longer will be a Lobo or a track coach: He is retiring after 33 years in the New Mexico education system.

"I'm not happy and I'm not sad," said Henry, 54, whose top assistant is his brother, Mark Henry.

"Maybe I've just been too busy to think about this being my last two weeks. But I tell people it's not like we are dead. We will always be around track and field."

Henry has been around tracks and athletics all his life. He was an All-America runner at UNM. His father worked at UNM for more than 30 years. His grandfather was a former UNM runner, and also a former UNM athletics director and track coach.

Henry came to UNM after 14 years at La Cueva High, where he won nine state titles.

At UNM, his women's program has the full allotment of NCAA scholarships at 18. His men's program has eight scholarships. Henry says the NCAA allows 12. He says UNM's failure to increase scholarships on the men's side has been frustrating, but isn't the sole reason for his departure.

"It's a lot of things," said Henry. "There are some personal reasons, but I think it was just time to go. We felt we did all that we could do, and it was time to give someone else a chance."

The big question for the next Lobos track coach is: "Will he/she really have a chance?"

The Lobos seem to have a visionary leader in Athletics Director Paul Krebs, whose firings and hirings show a commitment to winning.

But track is still in a hole - still in a faraway corner.

"I hope Mr. Krebs can make it happen for the next guy," Henry said.