Emory Track & Field Hires Smithey as Assistant Coach

Emory University head track and field coach John Curtin has announced that Ross Smithey will be joining his staff as an assistant coach for the 2009-10 season.

Smithey will replace former Emory assistant Jim Vahrenkamp, who left the program before the start of the season, and will be working with the Eagles' multi-event athletes, throwers and jumpers.

"We are very pleased that Ross Smithey will be joining our staff," said head coach John Curtin.  "Ross comes from a strong background in the multi-events and was an all-American decathlete at Doane College in Nebraska.  Ross's expertise in the throws and the jumps, his passion for the sport and the professional way he presents himself made him our top choice for the job."

Smithey comes to Emory from the NCAA Division II University of Central Missouri, where he was an all-conference athlete in the decathlon, helping his team to two MIAA Indoor Championships and three Outdoor Championships.  He also competed at Doane College, where he was an NAIA all-American in the heptathlon and the decathlon, in addition to all-conference honors in the pole vault and the 110-meter hurdles.

Smithey graduated from the University of Central Missouri in May of 2009 with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education.  He holds a USA Track and Field Coaching Level 1 certification, and had worked at various track and field camps, in addition to serving as a certified therapist at the Accelerated Recovery Performance Therapy Clinic.