Where are the Olympic track and field stars of the 80s and 90s now? Originally answered on August 14th, 2015
This question originally appeared on Quora. Ask a question, get a great answer. Learn from experts and access insider knowledge. You can follow Quora on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+.
Answer by Aaron Ellis, Track Coach
Back in the mid-2000s I was the jumps coach at Rancho Cucamonga High School, located in Southern California. Immediately after the 2007 season, I let the head coach know that I planned on leaving so he could quickly find a replacement.
One year later, I ran into the head coach at a track meet and asked who my replacement was. He told me that he ran into Mike Powell at a grocery store shortly after our last conversation and asked him if he wanted to coach jumps at Rancho. Mike accepted.
For those who don’t know, Mike Powell is a two-time Olympic silver medalist and two-time world champion in the long jump. He has also been the world record holder in the event (29 ft 4.25 in.) since 1991, and is one of only two long jumpers in history with legal jumps over 29 feet (the other being Bob Beamon).
I guess you can say Rancho upgraded.
More from Quora: Who are/were the most intellectual NFL players? | If you try to sleep longer, are there any health, psychological, athletic, or other benefits?
Before coaching at Rancho, Powell was a coach at several other local colleges and high schools, most notably UCLA, where he coached alongside other Olympic medalists from the 1980s, such as Jeanette Bolden (1984 gold medalist in the 4X100m relay), Al Joyner (1984 gold medalist in triple jump) and Johnny Gray (1992 bronze medalist in the 800m). Before UCLA, Johnny Gray coached at Harvard Westlake High School, which is known for its arsenal of former Olympians hired as coaches, including Quincy Watts, 1992 two time Olympic gold medalist and former world record holder in the 400m, as well as recent gold medalists Joanna Hayes and Felix Sanchez.
I think you see where this is going: if you want to find the champions of the previous decades, there’s a good chance they’re coaching in some capacity. It might be coaching at a high school, like Maurice Greene at Oaks Christian High School, or Joaquim Cruz leading a workshop at an LA 84 coaches clinic, or Michael Johnson private coaching Arsenal players. Because of their skills and experiences, they are always in demand as coaches.
Coaching updates on a few names from the 80s and 90s
- 1984 and 1988 gold medalist (110m hurdles) Roger Kingdom was the head coach of track and cross country at California University in Pennsylvania. He recently became an assistant conditioning coach for the Arizona Cardinals.
- 3-time 1984 gold medalist (200, 400, and 4x400) Valerie Briscoe-Hooks coaches at West LA College.
- 1984 and 1988 gold medalist Antonio McKay (4x400) coaches t Dunwoody High School.
- 1984 bronze medalist (pole vault) Earl Bell established Bell Athletics, through which he coaches elite pole vaulters.
- 1988 and 1992 gold medalist (4x400) Andrew Valmon is the men's head coach at University of Maryland.
- 1992 bronze medalist Dave Johnson (decathlon) coaches at South Salem High School in Oregon.
- 1976 and 1984 medalist (discus) John Powell and Mac Wilkins both coach. Powell assists at UNLV and Wilkins is currently a USATF coach.
- Gold medalist (1996 decathlon) Dan O’Brien was a volunteer Arizona State.
- 2 time medalist (1996 and 2000 hurdles) Mark Crear coached at Maranatha High School and is a life/executive coach.
- 1996 gold medalist (400m Hurdles) Derek Adkins coached at Columbia University.
- 1992 gold and bronze medalist (4X100 and 100) Dennis Mitchell coaches at National Training Center, and also coaches a club track team.
- 1966 gold medalist (4X400) Derek Mills coached at Tulane University.
- 1996 gold medalist (4X400) Anthuan Maybank coached at Tatnall School.
- Two time shot put medalist (1996 and 2000) John Godina runs the World Throws Center and coaches private coaches various elite athletes.
- 1996 silver medalist (Hammer Throw) Lance Deal was the throws coach at University of Oregon until 2010.
- 1992 silver medalist (110m Hurdles) Tony Dees coached cross country at University School.