Dumble, Johnson Named National Assistant Coaches of the Year in DI

NEW ORLEANS – Arizona State’s David Dumble and Oregon’s Robert Johnson were recognized Thursday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) as recipients of National Assistant Coach of the Year Awards as chosen by the nation’s coaches for the indoor track & field season in Division I.

NATIONAL MEN’S ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR: David Dumble, Arizona State
Dumble is in his ninth year as an assistant coach at Arizona State and concentrates his tutelage on throwing events. The Sun Devils scored 16 team points via the shot put and weight throw at this past weekend’s NCAA Indoor Championships in Fayetteville, Ark. Leading the charge was ASU senior Ryan Whiting, who claimed his third-consecutive national indoor title in the event and topped the field by over seven feet with a best of 70-7¼ (21.52m). Dumble also helped guide Whiting to a second-place finish at the USATF Indoor Championships in February. In addition, Arizona State senior Jason Lewis claimed NCAA scoring positions in the shot put (seventh) and weight throw (sixth).

NATIONAL WOMEN’S ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR: Robert Johnson, Oregon
Johnson is in his fifth year as an assistant coach at Oregon and concentrates his coaching on sprints, hurdles, long jump, and triple jump. Winning this award for the second-straight year, Johnson’s athletes contributed 23 team points to the Ducks’ first-ever capture of the NCAA team title. In addition, Johnson was Oregon’s lead coach at the NCAA Indoor Championships due to absence of the Vin Lananna, the Ducks’ Director of Track & Field. Oregon’s 4×400-meter relay of Jamesha Youngblood, Keshia Baker, Michele Williams, and Amber Purvis, won an NCAA crown for the first time, clocking 3:32.97. In addition, Baker would finish second in the 400 meters at the national meet in 51.63 and Purvis, just a sophomore, took fourth place in the 200 (23.21). Oregon also won their first MPSF team championship this season.

The USTFCCCA will announce recipients of the Division I National Coach of the Year award on Friday.