Top DI Schools for Women Vaulters???

[jmayesvaultmom]

If you had to make a list of the top DI schools with a great pole vault coach --- in other words, not just a jumps coach that you share with LJ, TJ, and HJ--with a high success rate for women, which schools would they be and what are the vault coaches' names?

[rainbowgirl28]

At Georgia we had 7 girls between 12'0" and 13'9.25" last year. Our vault Coach is Aaron James and he just coaches vaulters and multis.

[Barto]

Why eliminate the coaches who coach other events?

My experience is that 99% of the time the best coaches are going to coach more than one event.

With the exception of Coach James at Georgia, and Coach Curran at UCLA, I can't think of anyone I would trust my kid with who does not coach other events. Certainly no one with multiple NCAA placers in the last few years.

Barto*


*disclaimer - I coached everything!

[jmayesvaultmom]

I should probably clarify to say that in other words the vaulters actually have a pole vault specific coach... I know that at some schools the vaulters are kind of left to take care of themselves when it actually comes to vaulting technique...

[Barto]

Thanks for clarifying.

No good program is going to leave any athlete uncoached in any event.

[belmore]

I like Barto's list, I'm going to slip in a few more, Texas Tech, Don Hood Jr. my boy is only 7months old, but as soon as he's able to put a pole in his hand, he will visit Don D. Texas A&M, Martha Brennan just got her feet wet in this event, but she understands the event and the mentality, plus a&m has too much tradition, those guys jump high even when they cant'. Those Aggies are tough. Oklahoma, Tom keeps bringing big time vaulters out of their shells, he's good. There is a sleeper at SWT, Nick West, I think he's going to be a pretty good coach, allready helped one of his vaulters to a NCAA all american list. McNeese St. has a pretty good coach in Ol' Russ Buller, he's jumped a few good bars and sold a few bowflex machines to boot. I got to give more props to Aaron James, he's a good coach and person, I like the coaches that thinks people first, then athletic perfomance.

[Barto]

Hangin' out in the state of Texas for four years is not exactly a bad choice.

Barto

[achtungpv]

Many schools have produced very good vaulters and maybe 20% of them have a competent vault coach, so you can't say that a vault coach equates success. And every single great vault coach has had athletes who haven't improved one inch under them. Maybe 10% of success is due to coaching, 90% of it is up to the athlete. You can have the best coach in the world, but if you haven't set yourself up for success, chances are you won't reach your potential. This starts with everything outside of track. You've got to pick a college that you will enjoy living at for 4-5 years, pick a town & climate you'll enjoy, etc...if you are stressed out from all the factors outside of track, I'll guarantee it'll bleed over into your performance on the runway.

Also, I believe Bubka hit the nail on the head when he said too many vault coaches are too specialized in that event. They don't know enough about sprinting, gymnastics, weight training, etc. to take athletes to the elite level. You've got to be a better athlete before you become a better vaulter.

[Cpvault]

My Alma Mater is constantly overlooked when it comes to vaulting; especially on these message boards. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (Division 1; Big West Conference). I tend to agree with some of the other posts; it's not always the coach, sometimes it's your surroundings (facilities; other jumpers, etc...) We had 5 jumpers go to NCAA's in 1998 and 1999 (2 guys, 3 women), while producing the 2 different Women's National Champions those years (Bianca Maran; Paula Serrano). The coach, Sheldon Blockburger, coach's Jon Takahashi (17'8") right now, and Paul Terek(Decathlon World Championship finalist; 18'8" pole vaulter) as well as, a couple of good girls. In addition, Jan Johnson's pole vault club/camp is only 15 minutes up the road. I train there, as well as, Dean Starkey and Jill Starkey, Justin Nordberg (18') and a slew of good girls and guys. What I'm trying to say is, I've always believed that my surroundings helped me succeed here at Poly, as well as, good solid coaching. It's not uncommon to be at a BBQ here on the Central Coast, and have 6 18 footers; a world championship bronze medalist; an olympic bronze medalist; 4 14 foot girls; and a bunch of aspiring vaulters. It's a great area. (Ssshhhhh!!!! don't tell anyone; it's a secret)

[bjvando]

ditto: ( to cpvault that is) my older brother went there and enjoyed it very much. he ended up vault pretty good and had fun at the same time.

[Azbeachboy1]

<----------- Enough said...

[beastlyvaulter708]

Though he usually doesn't get very many female vaulters, Coach Mitchell from the U of Akron in Ohio has a great vault program. His girl went 13'9".75 last season and though he is the head coach, he spends most of his time on the vaults