CORVALLIS, Ore. – Former Olympic bronze medalist and veteran athletics administrator Dave Johnson has been added to Oregon State’s track and field coaching staff as a volunteer assistant, head coach Kelly Sullivan announced Tuesday. “Dave understands Oregon State and he knows what we’ve been doing throughout the whole process [of restarting the track and field program],” Sullivan said. “He’s wanted to be involved in some way, form or fashion and brings a lot to the table as a teacher, educator, administrator and coach. “Not every great athlete makes a great coach and it’s important to me that Dave hasn’t just been known as an athlete and totally disengaged from what it means to be involved with young people. I’m excited, Dave is excited, our staff is excited and I know the student-athletes in our program are, too. It’s a win-win for all of us.” I have been a big fan of OSU since graduating from Crescent Valley in the early 1980s,” Johnson commented. “Kelly Sullivan is a proven leader and the coaching staff is first class. I am honored to be a part of the incredible future of Oregon State track and field in the state and nation.” A multi-faceted athlete, Johnson, the bronze medalist at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics in the decathlon, will work with the Beavers in a variety of disciplines. With the recent completion of the first phase of the Whyte Track and Field Center, Oregon State has secured and is continuing to add talent in the throws, jumps, sprints and vault for the first time since the re-establishment of the program in 2005. more
