Hoskisson Named EOU Track and Field Assistant

1/24/2012 2:23:19 PM

Barrett Henderson, EOU Assistant Athletic Director

LA GRANDE, Ore. – The Eastern Oregon University women’s and men’s track and field teams have hired Jeff Hoskisson as their assistant coach.

Hoskisson enters his first year as an Assistant Track and Field coach at Eastern Oregon. After 26 successful coaching seasons, he returns to the Mountaineers where he graduated in 1984.

“With the hiring of Coach Hoskisson, EOU track and field is poised to enter a new era and continue to build on our success nationally,” Eastern head coach Ben Welch said. “Jeff's proven success in a wide range of track and field events and commitment to excellence will be a very strong asset. Part of Jeff''s strength is his connection and commitment, to EOU.

“As a former EOU student and track athlete, Jeff brings a different perspective and understanding, to the position. Additionally, he still has contacts in Idaho from his days coaching and teaching there.”

Prior to his return to Eastern Oregon, Hoskisson spent five years at Central Methodist University as the Director of Track & Field/Cross Country. During his tenure, the Eagles qualified 100 athletes to the NAIA National Championships in cross country, indoor and outdoor track & field. CMU had four national champions, 18 All-Americans and 46 HAAC champions. The record books have almost been completely rewritten, with 177 school records being recorded over the five years.

During the 2011 season, the Eagles produced an indoor national champion and three other All-Americans in addition to 10 indoor conference champions. Outdoors the Eagles produced five All-Americans and 11 conference champions. The Eagles men capped off the indoor season by capturing their first ever HAAC Championship and finishing eighth at the NAIA Indoor Championships.

Recognized as one of the top sprint/hurdle coaches in the country, CMU sprinters and hurdlers flourished under Hoskisson’s guidance.  His athletes established new school marks in the 55, 60, 100, 200 (indoor and outdoor), 800, 55 and 60 hurdles, 100 and 110 hurdles, as well as recording new marks in the 4x100, 4x200, and 4x400 relays. He coached the two-time indoor 60 meter hurdle champion, only the third time in NAIA history that a hurdler has won back-to-back titles.

Central Methodist’s success was not limited to the track and field. The Eagles have produced 25 NAIA Scholar-Athlete award winners for high academic achievement. The CMU women’s cross country, indoor and outdoor track & field teams have been recognized the past three seasons as NAIA All-Scholar teams.

Before coaching at Central Methodist University, Hoskisson coached at Highland Community College (2004-06), Western Michigan University (2002-04), Marquette University (1998-2002), Emporia State University (1996-98), Central Missouri State University (1993-96) and the College of Southern Idaho (1990-92).

At Highland, he coached a two-time All-American in the multi-events and had three conference champions.

At Western Michigan, he coached two conference champions in the Mid-American Conference. In two seasons, his athletes made every sprint and hurdle final in the conference meet. In addition, he had athletes earn top-three finishes in the triple jump, high jump and pole vault. The highlight of his two years was a 12th place finish for Rashad McDade in the NCAA Indoor 200.

Hoskisson’s four years at Marquette saw his athletes establish 25 school records. Two athletes qualified for the NCAA Championships and three qualified for the USATF Junior Nationals.

Prior to Marquette, he spent two years at Emporia State and three years at Central Missouri State. During that five-year span, his athletes earned 20 All-American honors, seven Academic All-American honors and seven conference championships.

Hoskisson’s coaching experience began in 1982, when he started as a sprint coach at Alta High School in Sandy, Utah. From there, he became an assistant coach at Twin Falls High School, in Twin Falls, Idaho, before becoming the head track & field coach at Vera C. O’Leary Junior High in Twin Falls, Idaho, from 1985-92.

From 1989 to 1993, he was a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee/USATF Men’s Sprint Development Committee. In 1990, he was a member of the Team USA Men’s coaching staff for the World Junior Track & Field Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Hoskisson worked with the short sprinters and relay teams. The 4x100 and 4x400 relays claimed World Championships and Rodney Bridges finished third in the men’s 100 meters.

Hoskisson is certified as a Level I and II coach by USATF and is an instructor in the USATF Coaches Education program. A frequent clinic speaker, Hoskisson has spoken at the Illinois, Missouri and Minnesota state track & field coach’s clinics as well as clinics in Las Vegas, St. Louis, Kansas, Illinois, Iowa and Argentina. He has also published numerous articles on sprinting and hurdling.