DURHAM, N.C. – Duke Director of Track and Field Norm Ogilvie has announced the hiring of BJ Linnenbrink as assistant track and field coach for both the men and women. Linnenbrink will be in charge of the throwing events for the Blue Devils.
Linnenbrink held a similar position at Notre Dame from 2003-07, where he tutored 15 NCAA Regional qualifiers and 17 All-Big East performers in throwing events. This included the first ever female thrower from Notre Dame to qualify for the NCAA meet and the first Irish thrower to advance to the Outdoor NCAA competition since 1945.
“We are extremely pleased to have BJ join our program at this time,” said Ogilvie. “Duke is ready to challenge the top throws programs in the ACC for supremacy and BJ will be a great coach to lead us where we want to go.
One of the top young track & field throws coaches in the country, Linnenbrink recently completed his fifth season at Notre Dame. Since joining the Irish program just after the beginning of the 2002-03 season, Linnenbrink coached 17 All-Big East Conference selections, including 2005 BIG EAST hammer throw champion Chip Roberts, and he was a part of five Big East Coaching Staffs of the Year (men's indoor - 2003, 2005; men's outdoor - 2003, 2006; women's indoor - 2006).
Linnenbrink saw his Irish throwers advance to the NCAA Mideast Regional 15 times in the past five seasons, with two qualifying for USATF competition (javelin throwers Derek Goguen in '03 [juniors], and Laura Huarte in '06). In addition, the Notre Dame top 10 lists in virtually every throwing event were radically altered under the direction of Linnebrink, with his pupils holding down 10 top-10 efforts on the men's side and a staggering 26 top-10 performances on the women's side.
As it turned out, the Irish men's throwers proved to be the difference in Notre Dame's comeback victory at the '06 Big East Outdoor Championship. In addition to Annen's heave, classmate Garet Koxlien uncorked a career-best throw of 57.35m (188-2) that was not only the eighth-longest in school history, but also locked up third-place (and All-Big East) honors. The tandem of Annen and Koxlien wound up collecting 14 vital team points that sealed Notre Dame's fourth BIG EAST men's outdoor title (and third in the past four years).
A former NCAA and USATF championship qualifier in the weight throw at Florida State, Linnenbrink owns the FSU school record in the weight throw (20.91m, 68-7 1/4) and ranks among the top five in Seminoles' history in the hammer throw (59.48m, 195-2). He earned All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) honors in '02 as well.
“We return a very talented group for the 2009-10 campaign and I know they are all anxious to begin working with BJ upon their return to Duke's campus in a few weeks,” commented Ogilvie. “In addition to the coaching success with all four throwing events, BJ has a proven record in recruiting, which will be vital to our continued improvement. His hire is yet another statement by our Vice President and Director of Athletics, Kevin White, that Duke seeks to be excellent in everything with do.”
Before his successful two-year stint at Florida State, Linnenbrink dominated at the junior college level, earning two NJCAA All-America honors at Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, Kan. In his two years at Johnson County, Linnenbrink also collected seven All-Jayhawk East Conference awards.
Linnenbrink graduated from Florida State in 2002 with a bachelor of science degree in physical education. In '06, he earned his master of science degree in physical education from Emporia State. Linnenbrink and his wife, the former Monica Hardy, were married July 31, 2004.
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