2008-09 VMI TRACK & FIELD MEDIA GUIDE The 2008-09 Virginia 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 (Alabama ‘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 & Southern Conference 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.