John McDonnell Named to 2008 Olympic Staff

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Razorback track and field head coach John McDonnell was named to the 2008 Olympic Team Staff as the middle distance coach, it was announced by USA Track and Field.

McDonnell has coached 23 Olympians, including a gold, silver and bronze medallist, spanning three decades and six different Olympic Games during his career but the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China will mark the first time in his career that he will be a member of the Team USA Staff.

McDonnell will join Harvey Glance of Alabama, Joe Vigil, Irving "Boo" Schexnayder of LSU and Criss Somerlot to compile the men’s coaching staff. Bubba Thornton of Texas is the Team USA men’s head coach.

In Olympic competition, Team USA track and field athletes have won 317 gold medals and 736 medals overall, by far the most won in any sport by any country. In 2004, track athletes won eight gold and 25 medals total at the Athens Olympic Games, the highest medal tally since the 1992 Olympic Games (30).

McDonnell, in his 35th season at the helm of the Arkansas program, led the Hogs to their 81st conference title (cross country, indoor and outdoor) and 26th indoor track and field conference title at the 2007 SEC Indoor Championships, in Lexington, Ky., in February.

McDonnell has been named National Coach of the Year 12 times in indoor track, 11 times in outdoor track and seven times in cross country for a total of 30 awards. Cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field combined, he has been Conference Coach of the Year a remarkable 47 times and Region Coach of the Year 61 times. During his tenure at UA, McDonnell has won 42 national titles, 81 conference titles and 181 athletes have earned 643 All-America honors.

For complete details and bios of the 2008 Olympic Team Staff, visit www.usatf.org.