Jan. 6, 2012
RENO, Nev. -
University of Nevada head track & field coach Shantel Twiggs has added two coaches to her staff beginning in the 2012 indoor season.
Scott Williamson is the team's new assistant coach and overseeing the high jump, multi-events and throws. Williamson comes to Nevada after spending the last six years as the head cross country/track & field coach at Nicholls State University.
During his time at Nicholls State, he saw the 2010 cross country team earn its first-ever regional ranking, and that team as well as the 2011 indoor and outdoor teams set their highest conference meet finishes in school history. He recruited and coached 62 school-record holders, two NCAA Championship qualifiers, 11 Southland Conference Champions and 23 All-Southland Conference performers. In addition, the team's Academic Performance Rate jumped from 843 to 967 during his tenure.
Previous to being the head coach at Nicholls State, Williamson was the head sprint and hurdles coach at Emporia State University and the volunteer coach for the same events at the University of Iowa. He earned a double-major bachelor's degree in health, leisure and physical studies and psychology in May of 2002 from Iowa and his master's in education from Emporia State in May of 2005.
"We are very lucky to have Scott as a member of our staff," Twiggs said. "He brings a wealth of knowledge and a passion for track and field to the Wolf Pack. He is an amazing developer of talent, and when you look at his team, every kid that he has worked with saw improvement under his direction. He has strong recruiting contacts throughout the country and internationally. We are lucky to have gained such a talent."
Randy Bryant has spent the last 17 years working in the field of major event marketing, currently running his own business, Pacific Athletics Cheer. Bryant will coach the pole vaulters after being a former all-conference performer while a student-athlete at New Mexico. Bryant coached at New Mexico from 1990-92 where his athletes swept the event at the WAC indoor and outdoor championships. He coached three All-WAC performers, with one athlete winning All-America honors and setting a school record. That same athlete, Simon Arkell, went on to win the event at the 1992 Commonwealth Games, set the Australian National Record and competed in the 1996 Olympic Games.
Bryant earned his bachelor's in physical education and sports administration from New Mexico in 1991 and went on to earn a master's in sport science in sports management from the United States Sports Academy in 1993.
"Randy Bryant has previous Division I coaching experience and international coaching experience and a strong gymnastic background," Twiggs said. "He is very enthusiastic and will make a difference in our vaulting program. He comes highly recommended and is well-respected in the vaulting community."
The Wolf Pack will return to action at the Blue and Orange Opener on Saturday, Jan. 14 hosted by Boise State.
