Eastern Michigan Athletics
Men's Track and Field Announces Staff for 2015-16 Season
9/25/2015 11:05:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
The coaching staff features many returners as well as a few new faces
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Eastern Michigan University men's track and field Head Coach John Goodridge announced today, Sept. 25, that two new volunteers will be joining the coaching staff for track and field. Additionally, the squad will be bringing back four coaches as well.
On the returning side, both Assistant Coaches Steve Manz and Sterling Roberts will be back at EMU for their sixth and fourth years, respectively. In addition to Manz and Roberts, the staff will include Volunteer Pole Vault Coach Howard Booth, who returns for his seventh season, and Volunteer Cross Country Coach Harry Dixon, who is back for his second year. Finally, the staff will include two new faces for the upcoming season. Former EMU athletes Donald Scott and Stephen Hammond are set to return and coach at their alma mater following graduation this winter.
Manz has been the throws and multi coach, leading the Eagles to new school records in indoor weight, outdoor hammer, indoor heptathlon, and outdoor decathlon. Additionally, he coached NCAA National Championship qualifiers Anthony Jones (Sandusky, Ohio - Sandusky) and Solomon Ijah (Murrieta, Calif. - Murrieta Valley). When discussing Manz, Goodridge stated, "When I first hired Steve he was given the task of building a throws program from scratch. He has worked hard to do this and is beginning to reap the rewards of his efforts. He is very well schooled from a technical and strength acquisition standpoint and offers a very successful and enjoyable training program for our athletes." Coach Roberts has been in charge of sprints, hurdles, and jumps throughout his time in Ypsilanti, and has produced incredible athletes as well. Some of the best times in EMU history have come under Roberts. Goodridge highlighted this fact, stating "Coach Roberts has had a major impact on our sprints and jumps events, highlighted by new school records in the indoor and outdoor triple jump and 4x100 meter relay. For the past two years, the group has run sub 40.00 in the event, which are the only times in EMU's illustrious history."
Booth and Dixon come from different backgrounds, as Booth has been a professor at EMU for some time while Dixon was a member of the EMU cross country team a few years ago. Goodridge believes both are valuable assets for the team, stating "Howard's outstanding career as a very well respected professor brings a very grounded researched approach to the training of our vaulters," and "Harry, having been a member of four EMU MAC Cross Country Championship teams, is an invaluable asset to me as he fully understands what meaning the EMU uniform represents."
Scott will coach the EMU triple jumpers, and Goodridge believes that he will make an impact on the team. When discussing the new coach, Goodridge said "I am very excited and appreciative of Donald's interest in beginning a coaching career. He is a great, competitive athlete but he also has a very good technical eye for coaching the triple jump." Hammond will be assisting Goodridge with the steeplechasers, for which the head coach is grateful. When discussing Hammond, Goodridge stated " Steve is an excellent student completing his Masters Degree in Exercise Physiology and will be a great help to me developing our steeplechasers."
On the returning side, both Assistant Coaches Steve Manz and Sterling Roberts will be back at EMU for their sixth and fourth years, respectively. In addition to Manz and Roberts, the staff will include Volunteer Pole Vault Coach Howard Booth, who returns for his seventh season, and Volunteer Cross Country Coach Harry Dixon, who is back for his second year. Finally, the staff will include two new faces for the upcoming season. Former EMU athletes Donald Scott and Stephen Hammond are set to return and coach at their alma mater following graduation this winter.
Manz has been the throws and multi coach, leading the Eagles to new school records in indoor weight, outdoor hammer, indoor heptathlon, and outdoor decathlon. Additionally, he coached NCAA National Championship qualifiers Anthony Jones (Sandusky, Ohio - Sandusky) and Solomon Ijah (Murrieta, Calif. - Murrieta Valley). When discussing Manz, Goodridge stated, "When I first hired Steve he was given the task of building a throws program from scratch. He has worked hard to do this and is beginning to reap the rewards of his efforts. He is very well schooled from a technical and strength acquisition standpoint and offers a very successful and enjoyable training program for our athletes." Coach Roberts has been in charge of sprints, hurdles, and jumps throughout his time in Ypsilanti, and has produced incredible athletes as well. Some of the best times in EMU history have come under Roberts. Goodridge highlighted this fact, stating "Coach Roberts has had a major impact on our sprints and jumps events, highlighted by new school records in the indoor and outdoor triple jump and 4x100 meter relay. For the past two years, the group has run sub 40.00 in the event, which are the only times in EMU's illustrious history."
Booth and Dixon come from different backgrounds, as Booth has been a professor at EMU for some time while Dixon was a member of the EMU cross country team a few years ago. Goodridge believes both are valuable assets for the team, stating "Howard's outstanding career as a very well respected professor brings a very grounded researched approach to the training of our vaulters," and "Harry, having been a member of four EMU MAC Cross Country Championship teams, is an invaluable asset to me as he fully understands what meaning the EMU uniform represents."
Scott will coach the EMU triple jumpers, and Goodridge believes that he will make an impact on the team. When discussing the new coach, Goodridge said "I am very excited and appreciative of Donald's interest in beginning a coaching career. He is a great, competitive athlete but he also has a very good technical eye for coaching the triple jump." Hammond will be assisting Goodridge with the steeplechasers, for which the head coach is grateful. When discussing Hammond, Goodridge stated " Steve is an excellent student completing his Masters Degree in Exercise Physiology and will be a great help to me developing our steeplechasers."
Players Mentioned
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Throws
/ Men's Track & Field
Jumps
/ Men's Track & Field
Multis
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