Rock Light new vault coach at Texas Tech

[rainbowgirl28]

http://texastech.collegesports.com/spor ... 05aaa.html

Light Added to Track and Field Staff

Former Oregon assistant to join Wes Kittley's staff

Light will coach the men's and women's pole vault and the men's and women's vertical jumps.

Track & Field Home

Sept. 6, 2005

Lubbock, Texas- Texas Tech track and field head coach Wes Kittley announced the hiring of Rock Light, a former assistant with the University of Oregon, as an assistant coach.

Light, a native of Lamar, Colo., will be coaching the men's and women pole vault and the men's and women's vertical jumps (long and triple).

Light comes to Lubbock after serving as an assistant coach with the Oregon Ducks for two seasons. While with the Ducks, Light produced three NCAA qualifiers.

Prior to his arrival in Eugene, Light was better known for the success at LSU as the team's recruiting coordinator and mentor for their heralded men's and women's multi-event, high jump and men's hurdle student-athletes. As an assistant coach for six seasons from August 1989 through August 1995, his athletes claimed four NCAA titles (men's and women's high jump, heptathlon and decathlon), 15 All-America performances, 13 Southeastern Conference titles and 12 school records. Indoors and outdoors during that run, the LSU men and women combined for 11 NCAA team titles, eight SEC titles and 19 top-10 NCAA team finishes. In that stretch, he also coached post-collegian Charles Austin, 1996 Olympic gold medallist, 1991 World Championships gold medallist and Olympic record holder (7-10).

In his previous coaching position, he served as men's and women's head track and field and cross country coach at Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos (1/83-7/89). He guided SWTSU to a pair of Southland Conference titles (and six runner-up finishes) to go along with five Gulf Star Conference crowns. Individually, his athletes won seven combined league titles and 21 All-America honors. In return, he was named 1989 NCAA District VI Coach of the Year, and overall was a seven-time Southland and Gulf Star Conference Coach of the Year honoree. Light began his coaching career as women's track and field and cross country head coach at Adams State College in Alamosa, Colo., for two seasons (8/80-8/82). He was honored as NAIA National Coach of the Year following his team's NAIA cross country win in 1981 (and then-meet record low 25 points), and outdoor national runner-up finish in 1982. Individually, his athletes claimed four individual TF/XC crowns, two NAIA national records and 15 All-America plaques.

"I'm so excited to bring Coach Light on board," said Kittley. "He's a great addition to our staff and we are so lucky to have someone with his knowledge and experience."

[Barto]

Good news for the vault community. Rock is a great guy and a better coach.

Barto