LSU - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Creative Design Graduate Assistant
Job Titles:
- Assistant Athletic Trainer ( FB )
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- Bowerman Watch List Member
Bowerman Watch List member, Alia Armstrong, saw another compelling year on the track under Ards. Armstrong cemented herself as the fastest hurdler in program history, clocking a time of 12.40 seconds in the 100-meter hurdle prelims of the SEC Outdoor Championships. She closed out the SEC Championships with her third hurdles title and the slightly wind-aided nation-leading time of 12.31 seconds. Armstrong was also part of the women's 4×100-meter relay team that took home gold in the SEC Outdoor Championships with a time of 42.92 seconds.
Alia Armstrong had the best season among collegiate hurdles during 2022. After having a stellar collegiate season, Armstrong took third at the USATF Outdoor Championships to punch her ticket for the World Athletics Championships. While at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon, Armstrong clocked a time of 12.31w in the 100-meter hurdles at the World Championships to take fourth place. Armstrong, the New Orleans native, was crowned the NCAA Champion over 100mh with a time of 12.57 seconds in the NCAA Outdoor Championship final. She racked up two First Team All-American honors during the championship after helping the 4×100-meter relay team to a fourth-place finish in the championship final. At the SEC Championships Armstrong was crowned a conference champion twice after taking gold in the 100mh and the 4×100. During the outdoors regular season Armstrong ran the collegiate all-conditions record of 12.33 (+2.5 m/s) at the Texas Relays to take first.
Indoors, Armstrong was crowned the 60-meter SEC Champion with a final time of 7.11 seconds, which ranked third in LSU history and first in the nation for 2022. She made LSU history with the fastest time in the 60 hurdles ever, taking first at the Tyson Invitational with 7.81 seconds. Her time of 7.81 seconds also led the nation in 2022. Armstrong while being a member of The Bowerman Watch List member and being named SEC Track Athlete of the Week (02/01).
Job Titles:
- Athletic Training Intern ( T & F )
Job Titles:
- Assistant Communications Director ( SOC, GYM )
Job Titles:
- Associate Athletic Trainer ( WBB )
LSU track and field head coach Dennis Shaver announced the hiring of Andy Ponce de Leon as the Director of Operations for the track & field and cross country programs in September of 2020. Ponce de Leon comes to LSU with over 14 years of experience in Athletic operations from a variety of highly successful programs
"I've worked coast to coast from the Pac12 to the Big East and believe working with this amazing staff and historic program is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity," Ponce de Leon said. "I'm highly grateful and excited about we can accomplish at a national and global scale."
Ponce de Leon has directed and assisted at a number of primetime meets during his career that includes prior stops at California Baptist University, Butler University, Arizona State University, Mt. San Antonio College, and Long Beach State. He most recently obtained his MBA in business administration from the Bristol Business School at the University of West England in 2019.
Ponce de Leon will be in charge of organizing all administrative and logistical aspects at LSU that include things such as team travel, budgets, recruiting efforts, directing home meets, ordering team apparel, and liaising with a multitude of departments on and off campus in order to efficiently run team operations.
He began his meet management experience playing in multiple roles for the World Famous Mt. SAC Relays, the Mt. SAC Cross Country Invitational, Footlocker Cross Country Championships and CIF Championships from 2000 to 2010. He then went on to assist in the 2011 PAC 12 Cross Country Championships and additionally directed both the 2011 and 2012 Sun Angel Classic hosted by Arizona State and later directed the 2013 Big East Conference Cross Country Championships while at Butler.
Ponce de Leon spent three years as an assistant coach at California Baptist University from 2015-18 and led recruitment initiatives that spanned all over the world. Prior to CBU, he worked nearly three years at Butler University in the same position from 2012-15 and he was the Big East conference representative that collaborated with national level professional organizations to legislate policy changes.
He served as a graduate assistant at Arizona State from 2010-12 while earning his first master's degree in Higher & Postsecondary Education. During his time in Tempe, Ponce de Leon directed events that featured over 5,000 participants at some meets. He coordinated staffing for those events and supervised the risk management plans with facilities, campus safety, and athletic trainers.
A 2006 graduate of Long Beach State University, Ponce de Leon served as a volunteer assistant while in California. He helped coach the distance runners while also playing an integral role in Long Beach State's recruiting efforts. Following his time at Long Beach State, he served for two years as the assistant distance coach at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, Calf., from 2008-10.
Ponce de Leon is a native of Long Beach, California, and is joined in Baton Rouge by his wife Monica Ponce de Leon.
Job Titles:
- Athletic Training Intern ( T & F, XC )
Job Titles:
- Maintenance Repairer Master
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- Graduate Assistant - Analyst
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- Operations Graduate Assistant
Job Titles:
- Associate AD / Strategic Advancement
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- Assistant Director of Social Media & Branding
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- Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach ( VB, WT )
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- Director of Partnership Services
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- Associate AD / Football Administration
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- Athletic Training Intern ( BSB )
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- Director of Tennis Operations
Job Titles:
- Director of Partnerships and Business Strategy
Coach Bennie helped Sean Burrell continue to show he was the best 400-meter hurdler in the nation during the 2022 outdoor season, earning his second consecutive title at the NCAA Outdoor Championships with a time of 48.70 seconds in the 400-meter hurdle final. The Bowerman Watch List member earned USTFCCCA First Team All-American honors for his back-to-back title win. Burrell was named the LSWA Men's Track Athlete of the Year for his stellar outdoor season.
Job Titles:
- Associate AD / Chief of Staff
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- Associate Communications Director ( BSB )
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- Assistant AD / Compliance
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- Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers Coach
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- Assistant Director of Recruiting
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- Executive Director of Social Media and Branding
Job Titles:
- Assistant Communications Director ( TF, MG )
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- Athletics Operations Manager
Job Titles:
- Associate AD / Ticket Sales and Operations
- Associate AD of Ticket Sales and Operations
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- Assistant Director of Student - Athlete Mental Health
Job Titles:
- Director of Athletic Operations ( PMAC )
Job Titles:
- Creative Content Graduate Assistant
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Player Personnel
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- Coordinator of Partnership Services
Job Titles:
- Player Engagement Manager - Football
Job Titles:
- Director of Radio Broadcasting / Voice of the Tigers / Marketing / Promotions
Job Titles:
- Horticultural Attendant - Foreman
Job Titles:
- Coordinator of Student - Athlete Mental Health
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- Director of Strategic Initiatives for Golf
Job Titles:
- Creative Content Graduate Assistant
Job Titles:
- Athletic Training Intern ( MBB, WBB, VB )
Job Titles:
- Deputy AD / Revenue Generation
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- Director of Athletic Equipment - Olympic Sports
Job Titles:
- Associate AD / Chief Brand Officer
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- Co - Offensive Coordinator / Wide Receivers Coach ( 225 ) 578 - 1151
Job Titles:
- Associate Athletic Trainer ( FB )
Job Titles:
- Associate Athletic Trainer ( FB )
Damion Thomas made his first Olympic team while training under the tutelage of Ards in 2021. Thomas represented Jamaica at the Tokyo Olympics and made it to the semifinals of the event. During the collegiate season, Thomas swept indoor titles at the SEC meet and NCAA meet in the 60 meter hurdles before scoring points for LSU at the NCAA outdoor meet as well. Thomas set the school record in the 110 meter hurdles at the Texas Relays with a time of 13.11 seconds, and fellow hurdler Eric Edwards Jr. clocked the third fastest 110 meter hurdle readout in school history at the LSU Alumni Gold meet with a time of 13.46 seconds.
Ards worked directly with Tonea Marshall in 2021 as she continued her rise into one of the world's most elite hurdlers with a career best of 12.44 seconds, a time that finished the 2021 season ranked No. 4 in the world. Marshall won the SEC title in the 100 meter hurdles and didn't lose a race all season in the hurdles outdoors. Unfortunately, a hamstring strain in the finals of the 4×100 meter relay at the NCAA Championships - about 45 minutes before the finals of the 100m hurdles - prevented her from running for a NCAA title.
Job Titles:
- Associate AD / Facilities Operations & Events
Job Titles:
- Graduate Assistant - Defense
Job Titles:
- Associate AD / Marketing and Broadcast Operations
Job Titles:
- Producer of Broadcast Operations / Live Events
Job Titles:
- Creative Content Producer
Expectations were high, but Shaver had experienced LSU's success first-hand as he helped coach LSU to a combined 12 national championships while serving as an assistant coach for nine seasons from 1996-2004. It came as no surprise when he was asked to continue LSU's championship tradition when the position opened in the wake of the 2004 season.
The women were crowned national champions during the 2008 outdoor season and have won a total of seven Southeastern Conference championships during his tenure. While sweeping SEC Indoor and SEC Outdoor titles in 2008 and 2011, the women's team has also captured outdoor conference title during the 2007, 2010 and 2012 seasons. Most recently, the men's squad won the 2019 SEC outdoor title marking the first outdoor conference title for the men since 1990.
In all, Shaver's teams have combined for 37 top-three finishes at the SEC Championships and 32 top-four finishes at the NCAA Championships between the indoor and outdoor seasons going back to his debut season as LSU's head coach in 2005.
Job Titles:
- Associate Director of Athletic Training Operations ( TF, XC )
Job Titles:
- Assistant AD / Ticket Operations
Job Titles:
- Assistant AD of Player Development - Football
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- Assistant AD / Sports Nutrition
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Operations ( MBB, T & F, Special Events / Scheduling )
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- Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach ( MG, WG, VB )
Job Titles:
- Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach ( T & F, XC )
Job Titles:
- Director of Training and Leadership Development / Information Technology
Ella Chesnut finished the season as just the third Tiger in program history to reach the NCAA Championships after finishing in fourth at the NCAA South Central Regional with a personal-best time of 20:18.4 in the 6k. Chesnut's fourth-place finish at regionals made her the highest regional finisher in program history, and gave her USTFCCCA All-Region honors. The Houma, La., native went on to finish 196 th at the NCAA Championships.
Job Titles:
- Coordinator of LSU Natatorium / Swimming & Diving Operations
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- Director of Creative Content
Job Titles:
- Assistant AD / Chief of Creative Content
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- Assistant
- Equipment Manager
Eric Edwards Jr. had a great last season to close out his collegiate career with the Tigers. Edwards was a finalist for both the indoors and outdoors NCAA Championships in 2022. Outdoors, Edwards finished second in the 100-meter hurdles with a collegiate PR of 13.15 seconds, which ranks second in program history for LSU behind his former teammate Damion Thomas. Indoors, Edwards finished eighth with a time of 8.24 in the 60-meter hurdle final. After the collegiate season Edwards went on to the USATF Outdoor Championships, taking seventh in the nation for the 100mh.
The 2021 season was another exceptional season for the sprints group under Brazell. Terrance Laird, Noah Williams, and Sean ‘Squirrel' Burrell all won individual national titles and all three were recognized by The Bowerman committee throughout the season; Burrell was named as one of 10 semifinalists for the most coveted award for collegiate track and field. Brazell earned USTFCCCA honors indoors as he was named the Men's Assistant Coach of the Year in the South Central region. Brazell's athletes accounted for 44 of LSU's 84 points at the NCAA outdoor championships as the Tigers won their fifth men's outdoor national title in June.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Broadcast Technology
Job Titles:
- Communications Graduate Assistant ( MG )
Job Titles:
- Coordinator of Partnership Services
Favour Ofili's first season in Purple and Gold was a successful one as she trained with Ards. Ofili earned four All-America honors during the season and registered four LSU top 10 marks. Ofili earned three medals at the 2021 U20 World Championships in Kenya as she represented her home country of Nigeria. She clocked a personal best of 22.23 seconds in the final of the 200 meters at the world meet to earn bronze and become the sixth fastest U20 athlete of all time in the event.
Ards helped fellow hurdler Milan Young to a successful season as she won the 2021 SEC indoor title in the 60 meter hurdles with a career best time of 8.03 seconds; Young would go on to place fifth in the finals of the 60 meter hurdles at the NCAA indoor meet. Symone Mason was one of Ards' best all-around sprinters as she qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in four events - 100 meters, 200 meters, 4x100m relay, and 4x400m relay. She helped the 4×100 meter relay to a silver showing at the NCAA outdoor meet with a time of 42.84 in the finals.
Ards was instrumental in Tonea Marshall becoming one of the most elite hurdlers in the world during the 2020 indoor season. Marshall clocked a career best time of 7.86 seconds in the 60 meter hurdles at the Corky Classic on January 18. The time of 7.86 made Marshall the third fastest in NCAA history, it ranked No. 5 in the world for 2020 and was also an LSU school record. The time of 7.86 earned her National Athlete of the Week honors and she was named to the Bowerman Watch List as well.
Favour Ofili had another stellar year on the track and was a semifinalist in the 200m at the World Athletics Championships and finished with silver in the 200 at the Commonwealth Games. During the outdoors collegiate postseason, Ofili closed out outdoors with three First Team All-American nods. She finished second in the 200, fourth in the 4×100-meter relay, and fifth in the 100 at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. At the SEC Outdoor Championships Ofili accomplished a spectacular feat of being crowned a three-time SEC Outdoor Champion after winning the 100, 200, and 4×100. In the 100, she ran the fifth-fastest time in LSU history of 10.93 seconds to take gold at the SEC Championships. At the Tom Jones Memorial Invite the Nigerian finished with a collegiate and LSU record time of 21.96 seconds in the 200 at the Tom Jones Memorial Invite. Ofili racked up many awards and honors during the outdoor season including being a Semifinalist for The Bowerman and earning the SEC Outdoor Commissioner's Trophy, USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week (04/19), and SEC Track Athlete of the Week (04/19, 05/04).
While in the indoor season Ofili was crowned a First Team All-American three times at the NCAA Indoor Championships. She finished second in the 200 meter with a time of 22.50, seventh in the 60 with a time of 7.25, and seventh with the 4×400-meter relay team with a squad time of 3:33.81. Ofili earned one SEC Track Athlete of the Week honor during indoors (02/08).Favour Ofili accomplished a spectacular feat of being crowned a three-time SEC Outdoor Champion after winning the 100, 200, and 4×100. The Bowerman Semifinalist finished with a collegiate and LSU record time of 21.96 seconds in the 200 during the season.
Job Titles:
- Associate Head Coach / Running Backs Coach
National qualifier as a member of the 4×400-meter relay team that placed ninth at the NCAA West Preliminary Rounds with a time of 3:06.06… All-Big 12 as a member of the third-place finishing 4×400-meter relay team (3:03.80) at the conference championship… ran a career-best time of 46.64 in the prelims of the 400 meters at the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays before finishing fourth in the finals (46.74)… helped 4×400-meter relay team place fourth at the Texas Relays with a season-best time of 3:02.19.
Ran an indoor-best time of 47.40 in the prelims of the 400 meters at the Big 12 Championship… helped 4×400-meter relay team take the victory at the Texas Tech Shootout with a time of 3:07.50… placed third in the 400 meters at the Aggie Invitational with a time of 48.42… clocked a career-best time of 22.41 in the 200 meters at the Texas Tech Corky Classic to place 14th… member of 4×400-meter relay team that placed first at the Corky Classic with a time of 3:08.87.
Freshman Michaela Rose showed she was one of the premier track and field performers in the nation in her first season with LSU, earning 2021-22 SEC Women's Freshman Runner of the Year honors. Rose finished with bronze in the 800 meter at the USATF U20 Outdoor Championship to go along with a silver medal in the 400-meter hurdles. Rose earned multiple USTFCCCA All-American nods for the 4×400-meter relay, while also racking up Second Team All-SEC honors for the 800. The Virginia native finished the year with the No. 8 800 time in LSU outdoor history (2:02.49) and the No. 10 time in LSU indoor history (2:04.70).
The 2021 cross country season was another tremendously successful season for the women as the Tigers placed fourth at the NCAA South Central Regionals for the best finish in program history at the meet. The Tigers were led by all-region honorees Katy-Ann McDonald and Lorena Rangel on the women's side, and Davis Bove picked up all-region honors on the men's side. McDonald finished sixth at the South Central regional meet to earn herself a bid to the 2021 NCAA Championships. McDonald's sixth place finish at the regional meet matched the best in program history, and she became only the second women's runner from LSU to qualify for the NCAA Championships in cross country.
Job Titles:
- Director of Analytics, Strategy and Revenue Integration
Job Titles:
- Assistant Coach / Recruiting Coordinator
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- Creative Content Producer
Job Titles:
- Creative Content Producer
Job Titles:
- Assistant Communications Director ( WB, BVB )
Job Titles:
- Assistant AD / Athletics Equipment
Job Titles:
- Director of Football Photography
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Post - Production
Job Titles:
- Associate Athletic Trainer ( SC )
Job Titles:
- Digital Media Graduate Assistant
LSU's distance program has flourished in the past four seasons under Houston Frank's direction since joining as the assistant coach for LSU track and field's mid-distance and distance squads in addition to head coaching duties for the cross country team in the summer of 2019. Franks will be heading into his fifth year coaching for the Tigers during the 2023-24 season.
The 2023 cross-country season saw Franks and the Lady Tigers tie the program's highest finish of third at the NCAA South Central Regional. This came a season after leading LSU to the program's first third-place finish in 2022.
Job Titles:
- Associate Development Coach ( FB )
Job Titles:
- Associate Athletic Trainer ( BSB )
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- Assistant Director of Video
Job Titles:
- Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach ( S & D, CH, TG )
Job Titles:
- Director of Performance Innovation
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- Sport Psychology & Counseling Intern
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- Athletic Operations Manager ( Soccer Stadium, FB Ops, Custodians )
Job Titles:
- Director of Athletic Development
Job Titles:
- Mail Services Administrator
Job Titles:
- Director of Player Development / Video and Scouting
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Compliance
Job Titles:
- Executive Director of Creative Design and Photography
Job Titles:
- Director of IT Services - Athletics
Job Titles:
- Director of Player Personnel and Influence
Job Titles:
- Assistant Athletic Trainer ( GYM )
Job Titles:
- Head Strength & Conditioning Coach - Baseball
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- Maintenance Repair Master
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- Director of Advance Scouting
Job Titles:
- Assistant Coach / Recruiting Coordinator
- Recruiting Coordinator
LSU track and field Head Coach Dennis Shaver announced the hiring of Jimmy Joseph as a recruiting coordinator on September 15, 2023.
Joseph joins the staff after serving as an assistant coach for track and field at Southern Miss last season. During his season with the Golden Eagles, the Donaldsonville, La., native primarily oversaw jumps and multi-events. Prior to his year in Mississippi, Joseph served as head coach of the women's and men's cross country and track and field programs at Alcorn State University.
Joseph served as the head coach of men's and women's track and cross country at Garden City Community College in Kansas, prior to Alcorn.
He spent four seasons as the associate head coach and recruiting director at Southern University. Joseph has also worked at the high school level, leading Donaldsonville High School for one year as the head track and field coach.
Joseph competed collegiately for Southeastern Louisiana from 2008-12 and he earned his undergraduate degree in the spring of 2012 in kinesiology and exercise science; he later earned his master's in therapeutic recreation/recreational therapy in 2019 from Southern University while he was an assistant coach.
Job Titles:
- Broadcast Operations Engineer
Job Titles:
- Creative Content Producer - Football
Job Titles:
- Assistant Coach / Assistant Director of Basketball Operations
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- Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks Coach
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- Director of SEC Network Television Operations
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- Assistant AD / WBB Operations
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- Director of Buildings & Grounds
Job Titles:
- Director of Player Development
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- Assistant Sports Turf Manager
Job Titles:
- Athletics Operations Manager
Job Titles:
- Assistant Manager of Applied Sport Science
Job Titles:
- Director of Operations / Special Assistant to Head Coach
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Broadcast Operations
Job Titles:
- Assistant Coach / Recruiting Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Marketing
Job Titles:
- Assistant Athletic Trainer ( MT, WT )
Job Titles:
- Director of Game / Event Management ( FB, Golf )
Won the Big 12 4×400-meter relay title with the eighth-fastest time in the nation of 3:00.73… finished a First Team All-American in the 4×400, taking sixth at the NCAA Outdoor Championships… recorded a new 200-meter PR of 20.89 seconds at the Clyde Hart Classic to start the season… took second in the 400 at the Trackwired Arkansas Grand Prix with a time of 45.63 seconds… helped lead his 4×400 team to a first-place finish at the Michael Johnson Invitational.
Earned First Team All-American honors a part of the 4×400-meter relay squad that finished fifth at the NCAA Indoor Championships… member of the 4×400 team that took second at the Big 12 Championships with the eight-fastest time in the nation of 3:03.33… recorded an indoor PR of 46.34 seconds at the Big 12 Championships in the prelims, finished seventh in the final.
Job Titles:
- Horticultural Attendant Leaderman
Job Titles:
- NIL Athlete Marketing Manager ( LSU ) Operations
Job Titles:
- Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach ( GYM, BVB )
Katy-Ann McDonald found herself reaching new heights in the 800 and the 1500 during the 2022 season. She earned two USTFCCCA All-American nods for the 800, including an eighth-place finish at the NCAA Outdoor Championships to earn First Team honors. Outdoors, McDonald clocked the school record of 4:12.30 in the 1500 and the No. 2 time in school history for the 800 of 2:00.98. Indoors she was able to clock the No. 3 time in school history of 2:02.85.
Job Titles:
- Director of Performance Nutrition, Olympic Sports ( BSB, MBB, MT, WT )
Job Titles:
- Athletics Operations Manager ( VB, Special Events & Parking )
Job Titles:
- Assistant Coach / Director of Women 's Basketball Recruiting
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Ticket Operations
Job Titles:
- Executive Deputy AD / COO
Job Titles:
- Director of Fan Experience
Job Titles:
- Associate Athletic Trainer ( BVB ) / Drug Prevention Coordinator
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- Assistant Director of Recruiting
Job Titles:
- Athletic Training Intern ( FB ) ( 225 ) 578 - 9244
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- Associate Communications Director ( MBB, WG )
Job Titles:
- Director of Alumni Relations and Community Outreach
Job Titles:
- Communications Graduate Assistant ( FB, S & D )
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Operations
Job Titles:
- Associate Development Coach ( FB )
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Ticket Operations
Job Titles:
- Assistant AD / Sport Psychology and Counseling
Job Titles:
- Communications Student Assistant ( BVB )
Job Titles:
- Athletic Training Intern ( FB )
Leah Phillips broke out as one of the top 60-meter hurdlers in the nation for the 2022 indoor season under the tutelage of Coach Ards. Phillips finished fourth at the NCAA Indoor Championship final for 60m hurdles with a time of 8.01 seconds, earning First Team All-American honors. She also went sub-eight seconds in the hurdles for the first time to set her PR and the fourth-fastest time in LSU performance list history of 7.97 seconds at the SEC Indoor Championships.
Job Titles:
- Director of Broadcast Operations / Live Events
Job Titles:
- Executive Director of External Relations and Letterwinner Engagement
Job Titles:
- Director of Football Design
Lisa Gunnarsson solidified herself as the best women's pole vaulter in program history during the 2022 season. Outdoors, Gunnarsson was able to set the LSU pole vault record of 4.65 meters (15' 3") at the Texas Relays on her way to finishing the season as a First Team All-American in the event. The Swede racked up many accolades during the year including: SEC H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete of the Year, TAF Female Scholar Athlete of the Year, NCAA Woman of the Year Nominee, The Bowerman Watch List member, LSWA Women's Field Athlete of the Year, and more. She also added two All-SEC nods for finishing second indoors and outdoors, and was First Team All-American indoors for pole vault.
Gunnarsson returned home for the Swedish National Championships in August of 2022, and was crowned the Swedish National Champion in pole vault after reaching a winning height of 4.24 meters (13' 11").
Lisa Gunnarsson became the first women's pole vaulter in LSU history to win a national title in the event. She won indoors and outdoors to become the first woman since 2010 to sweep NCAA titles in the pole vault. Gunnarsson, who owns both the school records indoors and outdoors, also earned a slew of academic honors as she was named the USTFCCCA indoor and outdoor Scholar Athlete of the Year while also being named a CoSIDA First Team Academic All-American.
Job Titles:
- Operations and Facilities Services Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Tiger Girls Assistant Coach
Job Titles:
- Director of Business Operations
Job Titles:
- Faculty Athletics Representative
Job Titles:
- Deputy AD / Leadership and Strategy
Job Titles:
- Director of Athletic Equipment
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Equipment Manager
- Assistant Equipment Manager / Human Resources
Job Titles:
- Associate Director of Performance Nutrition ( WBB, GYM, BVB, SOC )
Job Titles:
- Graduate Assistant, National L Club
Job Titles:
- Spirit and Traditions Coordinator / Head Cheerleading Coach
Job Titles:
- Assistant Athletic Trainer ( VB )
Job Titles:
- Performance Innovation & Analytics Assistant
Job Titles:
- Assistant AD / Operations & Facility Services
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of NIL
Job Titles:
- General Manager
- General Manager of Ticket Sales
Job Titles:
- Executive Associate AD / CFO
Job Titles:
- General Manager for Alex Box
Job Titles:
- Director of Spirit Operations
Job Titles:
- Director of Strength and Conditioning ( Olympic Sports, SB, MT )
Job Titles:
- Director Student - Athlete Professional Development
Job Titles:
- Associate AD / Communications ( FB )
Job Titles:
- Associate Athletic Director / Director of Sports Medicine
Job Titles:
- Associate AD / Sr. Woman Administrator
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of IT Services
Job Titles:
- Assistant Performance Dietitian ( FB )
Job Titles:
- Director of Athletic Operations ( Tiger Stadium )
Job Titles:
- Communications Student Assistant ( MT )
Job Titles:
- Recruiting Operations Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Graduate Assistant - Offense
Job Titles:
- Pitching Coach ( 225 ) 578 - 4148
Job Titles:
- Sports Science Research Associate
Job Titles:
- Associate AD / Business & Finance
Job Titles:
- Director of Alumni Relations and High School Outreach
Job Titles:
- NIL Athlete Marketing Manager ( LSU ) Operations
Job Titles:
- Associate Athletic Trainer ( FB )
Job Titles:
- Administrative Specialist
Job Titles:
- Associate Athletic Trainer ( SB )
Job Titles:
- Analyst - Recruiting and Operations
Job Titles:
- Director of Player Personnel
Job Titles:
- Assistant Performance Dietitian ( TF, XC, S & D )
Job Titles:
- Assistant Athletic Trainer ( TF / XC )
Job Titles:
- Communications Graduate Assistant ( MBB, FB ) ( 225 ) 578 - 8226
Job Titles:
- Horticultural Attendant - Foreman
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- Administrative Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Swimming and Diving Head Coach
Job Titles:
- Communications Graduate Assistant ( WT, WG )
Job Titles:
- Assistant Coach / Director of Player Development
Job Titles:
- Athletic Training Intern ( BSB, SB )
Job Titles:
- Creative Content Producer - Football
Job Titles:
- Graduate Assistant, National L Club
Job Titles:
- Manager of Applied Sport Science
Sean Burrell continued to show he was the best 400-meter hurdler in the nation during the 2022 outdoor season, earning his second consecutive title at the NCAA Outdoor Championships with a time of 48.70 seconds in the 400-meter hurdle final. The Bowerman Watch List member earned USTFCCCA First Team All-American honors for his back-to-back title win. Burrell was named the LSWA Men's Track Athlete of the Year for his stellar outdoor season.
Sean Dixon-Bodie, a true freshman, registered a personal best mark of 54' 6" (16.61 meters) to place fourth in the triple jump at his first career NCAA outdoor meet, and senior Rayvon Grey tacked on two points in the long jump with a leap of 25' 6.25" (7.78 meters). Dixon-Bodie was named the SEC Freshman Field Athlete of the Year indoors as he placed fifth at the NCAA indoor meet in the triple jump.
Job Titles:
- Coordinator of Athletics Administration
Job Titles:
- Associate Athletic Trainer ( MBB )
Job Titles:
- Assistant Development Coach ( FB )
Job Titles:
- Director of Creative Content
Job Titles:
- Horticultural Attendant Leaderman
Job Titles:
- Associate AD / Health and Wellness
Job Titles:
- Player Relations Manager - Football
Job Titles:
- Special Teams Coordinator / Tight Ends Coach
Set 400-meter PR at Big 12 Championship prelims… finished All-Big 12 in the 400 meters … member of the 4x400m relay squad that finished third overall at the Texas Relays … Big 12 Champion in the 4×400-meter relay … competed with the quarter mile relay squad at the NCAA West Preliminary Rounds, finishing in fourth place.
Set a new 200 PR in the 200 meters at the Charlie Thomas Invite … member of champion 4×400 squad at Corky Classic and Texas Tech Shootout … fourth-place finisher in the 400 meters at the Big 12 Indoor Championships … Big 12 silver medalist in the 4x400m relay … qualified to NCAA Championships in the 4×400 relay and finished 11th.
Job Titles:
- Creative Design Coordinator ( TAF, L Club, Gym )
Job Titles:
- Assistant Sports Turf Manager
Job Titles:
- Manager of Partnership Services
Job Titles:
- Executive Associate AD for Compliance
LSU track and field Head Coach Dennis Shaver announced the hiring of Sylvia Russell as an assistant coach on September 15, 2023.
Russell joins the staff as an assistant coach for the women's and men's track and field and cross-country teams. She will be helping to improve the distance squad alongside assistant coach Houston Franks.
Russell graduated from Mississippi State in 2020 with a bachelor's degree in psychology and soon followed it up in 2022 with a master's of science in food science, nutrition, and health promotion. While studying there, the Ajax, Ontario, Canada, native competed for the Bulldogs in track & field and cross country.
After earning her first master's degree she went to West Virginia to compete for the Mountaineers and complete her second master's degree in public administration in 2023.
Russell was an USTFCCCA All-Academic member and a perennial SEC Honor Roll member during her collegiate career. She held personal-best times of 17:13.6 (5k) and 20:38.2 (6k) in college.
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Coach
- Vice - Chairwoman of USA Track & Field 's Coaches Education Committee
Ards has served as the vice-chairwoman of USA Track & Field's Coaches Education Committee and as a USATF Level I Instructor since 2008 while providing educational opportunities for grassroots and elite coaches who work with athletes at the junior high school, high school and college levels.
Coach Tamara Ards returned to the LSU Track & Field program in the fall of 2017, and since then has season a plethora of success with the Tigers. The 2024 track & field season will mark Ards seventh season as an assistant coach for the Tigers, working primarily with short hurdles.
The women's track & field team was highlighted by the display of elite talent Ards coached on the hurdles squad during the 2023 campaign.
Job Titles:
- Special Assistant to the Head Coach
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- Assistant Director of Broadcast Operations
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- Associate AD / NIL & Strategic Initiatives
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- Athletic Training Intern ( MT, WT )
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- Director of a / V Services
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- Christopherson Business Travel ( 225 ) 578 - 1895
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- Associate Director of Program Development and Recruiting
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- Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach ( WBB )
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- Assistant Coach / Chief of Staff
The LSU jumps program boasts one of the proudest traditions in the history of collegiate track and field in the United States, and assistant coach Todd Lane has continued that tradition as he enters his 17th season as a member of LSU's coaching staff in 2024.
LSU has flourished in 16 seasons under Lane's direction as he has coached 20 NCAA scorers to 61 scoring All-America honors in four different jumping events since joining the LSU coaching staff prior to the 2008 season. His student-athletes have also captured 18 SEC championships and 63 All-SEC honors over the last 16 seasons.
During the 2023 season, Lane oversaw a very young and talented group of Tigers that included two outstanding upperclassmen jumpers in Morgan Smalls and Brandon Hicklin.
Smalls made big improvements in her high jump abilities throughout the 2023 campaign, reaching a new personal-best height of 1.86 meters (6' 1.25") at the LSU Lloyd Wills Invitational. Her new PR puts her at third on the LSU all-time performance list, just .03 meters (1") away from first. For both high jump and long jump, Smalls made an appearance at both the indoor and outdoor NCAA Championships in 2023. Smalls ended her outdoor campaign at fourth in the nation in high jump and earned one SEC Field Athlete of the Week honor (04/11). Smalls was named the LSWA Women's T&F Co-Field of the Year on July 21.
Lane coached Hicklin to the 10 th best mark in LSU-indoor history with a distance of 7.97 meters (26' 1.75") in long jump. The mark of 7.97m ranked seventh in the nation and was an indoor personal best for the Spartanburg, S.C., native. Outdoors, Hicklin was crowned First Team All-American after taking eighth with a distance of 7.86 meters (25' 9.5") at the NCAA Championships. Hicklin capped off his first and only season in Baton Rouge with a 10 th-place finish in long jump at the 2023 USATF Outdoor Championships in July with a mark of 7.75 meters (25' 5.25"). Hicklin was named the LSWA Men's T&F Newcomer of the Year on July 21.
The 2022 season saw numerous members of the jump squad post big time performances during indoors and outdoors. Lane led LSU members to a total of eight First Team All-American nods in all four jumping events. During conference competition, the jump squad collected eight All-SEC nods and two individual SEC titles.
Job Titles:
- Director of Student - Athlete Engagement
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- Operations Graduate Assistant
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- Athletic Development Intern ( FB )
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- Creative Design Coordinator ( MBB, WBB )
Tzuriel Pedigo was one of three Tigers to take home an NCAA title during the 2023 outdoor season. This marked his second NCAA title for javelin throw since the Baton Rouge native joined the team. His NCAA Outdoor title winning performance included rewriting his LSU program record by reaching a distance of 79.79 meters (261' 9") on his third attempt of the day. Pedigo's previous program record entering the week was 78.90 meters (258' 10"). His excellent season earned him honors such as the LSWA Men's Field Athlete of the Year award, First Team All-American, Second Team All-SEC, and a SEC weekly honor. Pedigo closed out his year with 16th-place finish at the USATF Outdoor Championships.
The 800-meter phenom, Michaela Rose, cruised to the third NCAA 800m title in program history in 2023. Rose became the only women to ever run sub-two minutes three times in their collegiate career, needing only her sophomore season (2023) to reach this accomplishment. Her third and final sub-two-minute time at the NCAA Outdoor Championships of 1:59.83 was also her fourth Mike A. Myers Stadium (Texas) record of the season. Earlier in the season Rose ran the second-fastest 800m time in collegiate history and the LSU program record of 1:59.08, only behind the 2021 Bowerman winner and Olympic-gold medalist Athing Mu (1:57.03). Her other sub-two-minute time of 1:59.73 came at the SEC Outdoor Championships where she won her second SEC title of the year. Rose's 2023 outdoor season included six of the eight fastest times in the nation for the 800m.
Job Titles:
- Executive Deputy AD / Executive Director of External Relations
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- Volunteer Assistant Coach
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- Associate AD / Human Resources
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- Director of Athletic Projects
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- Player Personnel Analyst - Defense
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- Coordinator of Partnership Services
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- Graduate Assistant - Defense
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- Assistant Development Coach ( FB )