2008-09 VMI TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE

The 2008-09 Military Institute Track & Field media guide was com- piled and written for the benefit of all interested in learning detailed informa- tion regarding the Institute, coaches, staff, and student-athletes of the Keydet track & field program.

Credits: The 2008-09 Virginia Military Institute Track & Field Media Guide is a publica- tion of the VMI Athletic Media Relations Office. Written, edited and laid out by Brad Salois, Assistant Athletic Media Relations Director. Cover design and layout by Joel Balthaser. Special assis- tance by Wade Branner - Assoc. AD for V M I K E Y D E T S Athletic Communications, Christian Hoffman - Asst. AD for Media Relations and the VMI track and field coaching 2008-09 TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE staff.

Photography: VMI INFORMATION GENERAL INFORMATION: Chuck Steenburgh VMI Communications & Marketing Name of School ...... Virginia Military Institute Main Track Office Phone ...... (540) 464-7060 WG Sports Photos City/Zip ...... Lexington, Va./24450 Indoor Facility ...... Cormack Field House VMI Athletic Media Relations Founded ...... 1839 Surface: ...... (200-meter banked - APS TARTAN) Andre Studios, Lexington, Va. Enrollment ...... 1,400 Outdoor Facility ...... H.M. “Son” Read ’16 Mem. Track Printing: Nickname ...... “Keydets” Surface ...... (400-meter, 8-lane track - Polyurethane) Mascot ...... Kangaroo Conference Championships ...... 36 Collinsville Printing - Martinsville, Va. School Colors ...... Red, White and Yellow Cross Country Titles ...... 5 (SoCon) Affiliation ...... NCAA Division I Indoor Track Titles ...... 17 (SoCon) TABLE OF CONTENTS: Conference ...... Big South Conference Outdoor Track Titles ...... 14 (SoCon) Superintendent ...... Gen. J.H. Binford Peay, III Athletics Director ...... Donny White About VMI ...... 1 Athletic Dept. Phone ...... (540) 464-7251 Quick Facts ...... 1 Coaching Staff ...... 2-4 COACHING STAFF: ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS: Last Season’s Top Times ...... 5 Men’s Outlook/Roster ...... 6-8 Dir. of T&F/XC (Head Coach) .Darrin Webb (Syracuse ‘94) Track & Field Contact ...... Brad Salois Men’s Profiles ...... 9-13 Email: ...... [email protected] Office Phone ...... (540) 464-7015 Cell Phone ...... (940) 642-9865 Women’s Outlook/Roster ...... 14 Phone: ...... 540-464-7060 Cross Country Coach ...... Paul Spangler ( ‘98) E-mail Address ...... [email protected] Keydet Athlete Feature ...... 15 Email ...... [email protected] Assoc. AD for Ath. Comm./SID ...... Wade Branner Women’s Roster/Profiles ...... 16-18 Phone ...... 540-464-7613 Office Phone ...... (540) 464-7515 Last Season in Pictures ...... 19 Assistant Coach ...... David “Zack” Scott (VMI ‘89) Cell Phone ...... (540) 319-1271 VMI Facilities ...... 20-21 Email ...... [email protected] E-mail Address ...... [email protected] Asst. AD for Media Relations ...... Christian Hoffman Record Books ...... 22-23 Phone ...... 540-464-7018 Assistant Coach ...... Garrett Brickner (VMI ‘05) E-mail Address ...... [email protected] About VMI ...... 24-25 Email ...... [email protected] SID Office Phone ...... (540) 464-7253 VMI Athletic Staff ...... 26-28 Phone ...... 540-464-7324 SID Fax ...... (540) 464-7583 Big South Conference ...... 29 Volunteer Assistant ...... Mike Decker (Liberty ‘01) SID Mailing Address ...... VMI Sports Information Cross Country Review ...... 30-32 116 Smith Hall Lexington, Va. 24450

www.vmikeydets.com VMI TRACK & FIELD 2008-09 <1> Head Coach Darrin Webb Head Coach Darrin Webb Director of Track & Field & Cross Country 1st Season as Head Coach (15th overall at VMI) - Syracuse ‘94 Long-time VMI Assistant Coach Darrin Webb was to regional and national meets.” named the fifth head coach in VMI history on May 20, 2008. During his tenure at VMI, Webb’s responsibilities COACHING CREDENTIALS have included recruiting, budget management for • 2004 Indoor All-American (200m) Webb, a 1994 graduate of Syracuse University travel, home meet management, as well as coor- • 5 NCAA qualifying marks with a degree in Exercise Science, came to the dination with academic services, the admissions • 5 IC4A champions Institute shortly after his graduation. The native office and the sports information office for all • 61 Big South & of Phelps, N.Y. served as an assistant under retir- publications regarding the VMI track and field Champions • 14+ Years of Coaching Experience ing VMI Coach Mike Bozeman for six seasons, program. and was then promoted to the position of PROFESSIONAL TIMELINE Associate Head Coach in the year 2000, and has Webb has had a positive impact on the VMI pro- • VMI Head Coach: 2008-Present served in that role since. gram over the last 14 years. Since joining the • VMI Assoc. Head Coach: 2000-2008 Keydet staff, he has been part of five Southern • VMI Assistant Coach: 1994-2000 "It is a great honor to be named The Director of Conference team championships. Webb has EDUCATION Track and Field and Cross Country at Virginia trained and coached 61 conference champions • B.S. Exercise Science (Syracuse ‘94) Military Institute,” stated Webb. “I would like to throughout his 14 seasons, as well as more than thank General Peay, Director White, Coach 90 athletes that have achieved All-Conference PERSONAL Bozeman, and everyone in the VMI Track and honors in the Big South Conference and Southern • Wife: Michele Field and Cross Country community who have Conference. • Children: Savannah Louvier shown support for me and my family not only throughout this process, but also over my entire The new VMI Head Coach also has to his credit 14 years at VMI. a 2004 Indoor NCAA All-American in the 200m, five NCAA qualifying marks in the 100m, 200m, Rest assured, I will work day and night to build high jump, and a 1996 provisional qualifier in upon the successes created by the four outstand- the decathlon. He has coached five IC4A cham- ing Head Coaches who have come before me, pions, in the high jump (2), 55m dash, and the Coach Read, Coach Cormack, Coach Williams, 200m (2). and Coach Bozeman.” The 2004 Indoor IC4A champion also holds the “2008-09 is an exciting time here at VMI. I am meet record of 20.85 in the 200m. Webb has not only excited about the opportunity that has also coached more than 10 athletes that have been put before me as an individual, but I am scored at the IC4A championships, in events also very excited about the six sports that make ranging from the heptathlon, decathlon, pole up this program,” offered the VMI head man. vault, high jump, long jump, and 110m hurdles.

“We are just finishing cross country, where the Since arriving at VMI, Webb has worked with men finished third (finishing behind a pair of athletes that have recorded over 82 top-10 per- regionally ranked teams) and the women finished formances in the history of the VMI program, fourth (the highest finish of women’s cross coun- added nine new men’s school records, and 21 try in the 10 years of the program’s existence). women school records.

As we move into track and field, I look for both Webb and his wife, Michelle, have a seven-year programs to move up in the conference stand- old daughter, Savannah Louvier. The family cur- ings, and I project that we will continue to devel- rently resides in Lexington. op conference champions and qualify individuals Coach Webb speaks to the VMI faithful

2 VMI TRACK & FIELD 2008-09 www.vmikeydets.com Coaching Staff

PAUL SPANGLER ZACK SCOTT

 Cross Country Head Coach  Assistant Track & Field Coach  Assistant Track & Field Coach  Throwing Events  7th Season  5th Season  Alabama ‘98  VMI ‘89

Paul Spangler begins his seventh season as Head Cross Country Coach and Assistant Track Coach David "Zack" Scott is entering his fifth year & Field Coach at VMI. at VMI, a tenure which saw him hired prior to the ‘04-’05 season by former VMI head coach Mike In his six seasons at VMI, his athletes have Bozeman, and now sees him working with new established 21 new school records. At the head coach Darrin Webb. Coach Scott is respon- 2008 Big South Conference Championships, the women’s team posted a sible for the team’s throwers, and also holds duties as recruiting coordinator fourth place finish, the best conference championship result for a women’s and team travel liason. sport at VMI. Additionally, the men’s team earned a top-three finish for the first time since 2005. Scott is a USATF certified coach at level I and II in the throws and jumps, and has coached IC4A (men) and ECAC (women) qualifiers in all four throwing During the 2007 season, Spangler also helped coach Keydet star freshman events during his time at VMI. In addition, the Virginia native has tutored a two- Felix Kitur, who was the fastest freshman in the country at the indoor and out- time Penn Relays runner-up in the javelin, VMI record holders in all four throw- door version of the 800-meter run, and finished ninth overall at the NCAA ing events and he has also been tabbed by USATF as an Emerging Elite Coach. National Outdoor Championships. Not only have Scott’s throwers enjoyed success in their events, but also in their The 2007 men’s cross country team, under Spangler’s tutelage, also tied the careers following graduation. The VMI throws coach has mentored a group of best-ever finish for a Keydet program at the NCAA Regional Championships, athletes who have gone on to careers immediately after graduation in such pro- finishing 19th overall out of approximately 45 teams in the Southeast Region. fessions as the armed forces, law enforcement investment banking and busi- In the summer of 2007, Spangler was invited to deliver the keynote speech ness. That list includes Academic All-American and VMI record holder in the on racing tactics at Virginia Tech's High Performance Academy. javelin, Chris Brandriff ‘06, who recently obtained his master’s degree from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business. In his earlier years at VMI, Coach Spangler led the Keydet men’s cross coun- try team to its best finish since 1983, when the squad finished second at the Prior to his time as an assistant at the Institute, Coach Scott spent nine years 2005 Big South Championships. as an assistant high school coach, both in track and field and football. On the gridiron, he was part of a staff which captured a pair of AAA Division 6 Virginia Spangler is a 1998 graduate of the University of Alabama with a B.S. in Sport State Championships, while on the track, he coached several high school All- Management. Spangler was a 1996 and 1997 NCAA National Championship Americans in the throws. In addition, Scott worked as a defense contractor spe- qualifier in cross country and made the All- and cializing in Military Intelligence while coaching in the Northern Virginia area. NCAA All-South Region teams in his senior year at the University of Alabama. Scott, VMI class of 1989, was a scholarship student athlete on the VMI Track He later went on to receive a Master’s from Florida State University in Sports and Field team. The native of Alexandria, Va., was one of Coach Bozeman’s first Administration, and coached the Seminoles cross country and track & field two recruits during the former head man’s first year, and the nationally ranked programs. shot putter and discus thrower was a part of two of Coach Bozeman’s twelve Southern Conference team titles. Also while under Bozeman’s tutelage, Scott During his time at Florida State, he helped to develop 13 NCAA All-South was an all-Southern Conference thrower in three different throwing events. Region performers, had three NCAA individual qualifiers in cross country, 10 All-ACC track and field athletes, and two athletes qualify to the World Junior Coach Scott is a former United States Marine, a veteran of the Gulf War and Track and Field Championships. resides in Lexington.

Spangler and his wife, Cynthia, were married in July 2002. The couple resides in Lexington.

www.vmikeydets.com VMI TRACK & FIELD 2008-09 3 Coaching Staff Garrett Brickner Michael Decker

 Assistant Track & Field Coach  Volunteer Assistant Coach  Jumps & Multi’s  2nd Season  1st Season  Liberty ‘01  VMI ‘05 Michael Decker, a native of Buena Vista, Va., is Former VMI Track and Field standout Garrett in his second season as a volunteer assistant Brickner was named the program’s newest coach for VMI track and field. He graduated assistant coach at the Institute, according to from Parry McCluer High School, and joined Director of Track and Field Darrin Webb, as the track and field program announced on September 3, 2008. as a freshman walk-on.

Brickner earned a degree in psychology at the Institute, in addition to his role Decker exploded onto the scene as a sopho- on the track and field squad. He comes to VMI after spending one season at more, winning the Big South 400m and 200m indoors and out, while also Washington & Lee, where he served as an assistant coach. While there, he helping the 4x400m relays and 4x100m relay to victory. He also won the helped lead the Generals to numerous all-conference honors, as well as help- IC4A indoor 200m and was second in the 500m. Decker followed with a ing mentor a pair of All-Americans, Washington and Lee’s first since 1993. 400m victory outdoors, clocking a school-record and Olympic Trials-qualify- Prior to working in Lexington, Brickner spent a year in Washington, D.C., ing 45.67 and a third place finish in the 200m. He scored 230 points for working at Dulles Airport under the employ of the Department of Homeland Liberty that season and went on to place 14th at the NCAA national champi- Security. onship at 400m.

He competed in many events during his career, including the jumps, the In 2000, as a junior, Decker set a school record of 21.23 in the indoor 200m. multi’s, the pole vault and hurdling disciplines, and was a qualifier to the He also triumphed at the indoor IC4A 400m and lowered his indoor record to 2005 NCAA Championships, thanks to a second-place finish in the high jump 46.47. Decker finished 10th at indoor nationals, running 46.59, and earning at the East Regional meet. the last All-American spot. He also won the Big South indoor 400m, 200m, and ran on the 4x400m relay. Outdoors, he won the Big South 400m and He currently holds the VMI heptathlon record, and has the second-best high 200m and ran the relays before winning both the IC4A 400m and 200-m. jump at the Institute. Finally, he is the current Big South high jump record holder, and was the three-time Big South Field Event Performer of the Meet In 2001, Decker again won every race he ran in the Big South and captured at various conference championships. the IC4A 400m, indoors and out. At indoor nationals he was the last runner to make the finals in the 400m, and then ran an excellent 46.33 to claim fifth “I am excited about the positive attributes Garrett Brickner brings to VMI, as place in the final, his highest national finish ever. he returns to his alma mater,” stated Coach Webb. “We, as a staff, are seek- ing to continue the process of building both the men’s and women’s programs During his three years of running for Liberty, Decker was a seven-time IC4A to an ideal standard, and we believe Garrett’s skills and knowledge of VMI will individual event champion and a 12-time Big South champion. Decker also aid that process a great deal. Garrett is a great addition to the school and the ran on an IC4A championship 4x100m relay and on numerous Big South program, and I know that the work ethic I observed while coaching him will championship relays. He scored 142 points in Big South championship meets aid him greatly in doing an outstanding job.” and 113 points in the IC4A championship meets. He has one daughter, MacKenzie. Brickner currently resides in Lexington, and is a native of Fairfax Station, Va.

4 VMI TRACK & FIELD 2008-09 www.vmikeydets.com