RENO, Nev. T.J. Crater begins his first year as an assistant track and field coach, head coach Shantel Twiggs announced Monday. Crater will serve as the Pack’s throws coach in addition to overseeing all field events.
Crater comes to Nevada after spending the previous four seasons as an assistant men’s and women’s track and field coach at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Wash. While at Central Washington University, Crater was primarily responsible for all throwing events as well as implementing and monitoring strength and conditioning programs for all non-distance athletes. His duties also included coordinating home meets, ordering equipment, fundraising, budgeting and team travel itineraries.
“He is young and enthusiastic and I’m very excited to have him join our staff,” Twiggs said. “TJ is one of the up-and-coming throws coaches in the country. His being voted the National Track and Field Coach of the Year was a great honor, and to me I was even more impressed that he was nominated by one of his peers. He will be a great fit.”
At Central Washington University, Crater was named the 2007 United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA)-Division II West Region Men’s Assistant Track and Field Coach of the Year and the 2007 USTFCCCA-Division II National Men’s Assistant Track and Field Coach of the Year. During his time at Central Washington University, Crater recruited 30 national qualifying performances by 10 national qualifiers. He also coached nine All-Americans at the Division II level and 12 Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) individual champions.
Crater’s throwers recorded 104 of Central Washington University’s 238 points to help lead the men’s track and field team to a 2007 GNAC Title.
He lettered four years in track and field at the University of Idaho, from 1998-2002. While competing for the Vandals, Crater was an NCAA Championships qualifier in 2002 (35lb weight) and was a five-time All-Big West Conference Performer, three times in the hammer throw and two times in the shot put.
Crater is a USATF Level 1 Certified Coach, a member of the National Throws Coaches Association and holds an NCAA Recruiting and Eligibility Certificate.
A native of East Wenatchee, Wash., Crater earned a dual Bachelor’s Degree in forest resources administration and forest products timber harvesting with a minor in business administration/economics from the University of Idaho in 2002.
