The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Sategna named to Team USA Olympic coaching staff
07.15.2015 | Track & Field / Cross Country
Texas Head Coach to serve as men's throws coach in Rio
AUSTIN, Texas – Texas Track & Field Head Coach Mario Sategna is headed to Rio de Janeiro next summer as a member of the Team USA coaching staff. USA Track & Field announced its men's and women's coaching staffs for the 2016 Olympic Games on Wednesday, and Sategna is among the assistant coaches.
Sategna will serve as the assistant coach for throws on the men's Olympic team under head coach Vin Lananna, former Oregon head coach and current president of TrackTown USA.
"This is a tremendous honor to be named to the 2016 Olympic staff working with the greatest team in the world. Being able to work alongside Vin and the rest of the great staff that the USATF has selected for this, I'm truly honored," Sategna said. "In our sport of track and field, the pinnacle of anybody's career is to make it to the Olympic Games; and as a staff member, I'm going to give it all I can to assist that great team of young men and even women to flourish and get on the podium. It's a true honor to be named to this coaching staff and serve my country in this manner."
This year, Sategna led the Longhorns to the first double sweep of the Big 12 Conference Championships since 2006 as his men and women won both the indoor and outdoor titles. The men and women also both finished in the Top 10 at the NCAA Championships indoors and out.
Sategna has coached seven throwers, jumpers and combined events athletes to NCAA titles in his career and helped guide former Longhorn Trey Hardee to gold at the 2009 IAAF World Championships in the decathlon and silver at the 2012 Olympics.
Sategna joins Curtis Frye, Cliff Rovelto and Troy Engle as assistant coaches on the men's staff. Connie Price-Smith was announced as the head coach of the women's team for the 2016 Rio Games. The women's assistant coaches are Robyne Johnson, Rose Monday, LaTanya Sheffield and Bonnie Edmonson.
Johnson is an alumna of Texas and a three-time All-American in the triple jump during her career as a Longhorn. She is entering her 11th year as the head coach at Boston University this fall. As a professional she had a successful career, holding the American record in the triple jump for some time. Johnson has been named Patriot League Coach of the Year twice and America East Conference Coach of the Year seven times.