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Bubba Thornton Position: Head Coach Experience: 18th Season Alma Mater: TCU

With record of excellence both nationally and internationally, Bubba Thornton has completed 31 seasons as a head collegiate track and field coach, including the last 18 at The University of Texas.

Thornton led the transformation of the men's track and field program into a perennial conference and national title contender. Thornton has guided the Longhorns to top 15 finishes at the NCAA Outdoor Championships 13 times, including four top five finishes. Under Thornton's direction, UT has finished in the top 25 at the outdoor national meet in each of the last 15 years and in the top 10 five of the last nine years, including a third-place finish in 2006, fourth in 2008 and sixth in 2013.

In addition, the Horns have finished as the top Big 12 school at the outdoor national meet in five of the last eight seasons. The Horns have finished in the top 15 at the NCAA Indoor Championships in 14 of Thornton's 18 seasons. UT has finished in the top 10 at the indoor national meet in nine of the last 11 seasons and within the top four in four of the last 10 seasons with third-place finishes in 2007 and 2008, and fourth-place finishes in 2004 and `06. Overall, during Thornton's tenure, the Longhorns have logged 19 top 10 NCAA finishes (10 indoor, nine outdoor) and 12 conference titles (six indoor, six outdoor). He has been voted Big 12 Coach of the Year 10 times (five indoor, five outdoor).

The Longhorns annually rank among the best overall programs in the nation. Over the last 13 academic years, Texas has ranked in the top five nationally seven times when you combine the national finishes of cross country, indoor track and outdoor track. The Longhorns were fifth in the standings for the 2012-13 John McDonnell Division I Men's Program of the Year Award, which honors the institution that has achieved the most success in each academic year -- spanning the cross country, indoor track & field and outdoor track & field seasons -- based on the institution's finish at the NCAA Championships. Texas finished third in 2011-12.

While at Texas, Thornton has produced 26 NCAA individual champions, a relay champion and 94 athletes who have combined for 222 All-America honors (indoor and outdoor). His athletes hold 18 of the 29 indoor school records and 14 of the 29 modern outdoor records.

In addition to his time as a collegiate coach, Thornton has had a strong presence on the international scene. After years of service, Thornton was selected to coach the U.S. men's track and field team for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. While at the helm, Thornton guided the American squad to the most medals of any team (14) and the most gold medals (four), including sweeps in the 400 meters and the 400-meter hurdles. Thornton earned the Order of Ikkos medallion for his service to the U.S.O.C. and its athletes. The medallion recognizes a coach for their integral part in the success of Olympians, since it is not tradition for them to receive a medal or recognition from the IOC.

Prior to his selection as head Olympic coach, Thornton led the U.S. Team at the 2003 World Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Paris, France. He helped the team to a meet-high 20 medals, including 10 golds, as the men's 4x100 and 4x400-meter relay teams captured gold in two of the meet's final three events to secure the medal count victory. As an assistant coach for Team U.S.A. at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, Thornton tutored the Americans in three events - the 400 meters, 400-meter hurdles and 4x400-meter relay - and his athletes captured three gold medals and a silver. He also led the United States men's national team that won the most medals at the 1996 World Junior Championships in Sydney.

Thornton most recently guided the Longhorns to the 2013 Big 12 Indoor and Outdoor titles, their third sweep in league history.

Texas rolled up 135 points to out-distance rival Oklahoma which was second with 108.50. Keiron Stewart won his second 60-meter hurdles conference title, Hayden Baillio captured his first shot-put crown and freshman Johannes Hock took home gold in the heptathlon and was the league's freshman indoor performer of the year. The Longhorns received contributions throughout the roster as 24 of the 26-man travel party scored at least one point.

Stewart (fifth), Hock (sixth) and Baillio (seventh) all earned first team All-America honors at the NCAA Indoor meet, helping the Horns finish tied for 23rd. Stewart eclipsed his own school record with a time of 7.63 in the 60m prelims.

Despite Stewart missing the meet with an injury, the Longhorns captured their fifth Big 12 Outdoor title by rolling up 146.50 points at the three-day at Baylor, to once again edge Oklahoma. Ryan Crouser set the school and meet record in the shot put (69-2) and Hock snapped the meet mark in the decathlon with the seventh-best total in collegiate history (8,293).

The Longhorns went on to finish sixth at the 2013 NCAA Outdoor meet, highlighted by victories from Crouser in the shot put and Hock in the decathlon. Crouser collected just the second shot-put title in school history. Hock posted the ninth-best decathlon total (8,267) in collegiate history. Isaac Murphy was fourth in the decathlon with a career-best total of 8,086 and Craig Lutz third in the 10,000 meters.

In the fall of 2012, the cross country team finished ninth at the NCAA Championships, the Horns best finish since 2006 and an improvement at the national meet for the third-straight year.

During spring of 2012, Texas had a pair of top 10 showings at the national meets.

The indoor season saw the Longhorns finished seventh at the NCAA Championships. Eight individuals earned All-America honors and Jacob Thormaehlen broke the school record in the shot put with a throw of 67-3 1/4. Earlier in the indoor season, Crouser, then a freshman, broke the same record with a throw of 65-5. The previous mark of 65-0 stood for 30 years. UT captured five individual titles while finishing second at the Big 12 Championships. Crouser was named the Big 12 Freshman Performer of the Year.

The 2012 outdoor season saw Texas finish tied for ninth at the NCAA Championships. Marquise Goodwin claimed his second long-jump title and Murphy (seventh - decathlon), Ryan Dohner (seventh - 10,000m), Thormaehlen (seventh - shot put) and Stewart (eighth - 110m hurdles) earned All-America honors.

In 2011, Thornton led the Longhorns to a pair of top 15 finishes at the national meets (10th indoor/12th outdoor) and a second-place showing at the Big 12 Outdoor meet. At NCAA outdoors, Texas earned seven first team All-America honors with points from athletes in the 110m hurdles, 4x100m relay, shot put, and long jump. Stewart clocked a 13.38 in the 100mh for fifth overall. He also won the 60m hurdles in a then school-record time of 7.66 at the Big 12 Championships resulting in him being named the USTFCCA South Central Region Men's Indoor Athlete of the Year. Texas' 4x100 relay of juniors Alex Williams, Trevante Rhodes, Goodwin and D.J. Monroe and two athletes in the shot put - Baillio and Thormaehlen - also earned All-America honors at the 2011 NCAA Outdoor meet. Goodwin finished fourth in the long jump, landing him another All-America honor. He went on to earn a silver medal at the 2011 World University Games. Murphy earned a second team All-America award in the decathlon at the 2011 outdoor meet.

The Longhorns extended Thornton's streak of consecutive top 25 outdoor finishes at the 2010 NCAA meet to 12 when they tied for 17th. The Texas scoring effort was led by then-freshman Goodwin, who won the event in Eugene, Ore., with a leap of 26-9 to become the first Horn to capture the event since 1996. Goodwin was not the only freshman from Thornton's squad to make an immediate impact. Five other Texas freshmen earned All-Big 12 honors, including Baillio and Stewart who ended up as All-Americans. The Texas throwers were a consistent force throughout the season. Three Longhorns tossed the shot put over 60 feet in the same season, for only the second time in Longhorn history. Baillio, Thormaehlen and junior Brandon Drenon all achieved the feat during the indoor season on their way to All-Big 12 honors. On the year, the Longhorns totaled 33 All-Big 12 and eight All-America honors (indoor and outdoor).

In 2009, Thornton led the Longhorns to a fourth Big 12 Indoor Championship in as many years and top 20 finishes at the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships, including a seventh consecutive top-10 indoor finish. With their 2009 Big 12 Indoor Championship, the Horns became just the second team in conference history to win four straight indoor titles and the first Texas squad in school history to accomplish the feat. The Longhorns tallied nine All-America and 48 All-Big 12 honors, including a national title and seven Big 12 titles. Jacob Hernandez won the Longhorns' NCAA title in the indoor 800 meters, finishing nearly a full second ahead of the field. Tevan Everett finished second at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the 800 meters. Everett also set two school records in the indoor 600 yards (1:08.51) and the indoor 800 meters (1:47.82). On the international stage, former Longhorns Trey Hardee (decathlon), Andra Manson (high jump) and Leo Manzano (1,500 meters) earned spots on the U.S. World Championship team. Hardee went on to become the first Texas men's track and field alum to win a World Championship when he took the decathlon with a score of 8,790 points, which ranked him as the No. 9 all-time decathlete and No. 3 American.

The 2008 season saw the Longhorns claim the program's third consecutive Big 12 Indoor Championship, a third-place finish at the NCAA Indoor meet and a fourth-place showing at NCAA Outdoors.

The Longhorns finished in the NCAA's top 20 in cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field for the third consecutive year, the only program nationally to do so in that time span. Manzano claimed his second consecutive national title in the mile and teamed up with Tevan Everett, Danzell Fortson and Hernandez in the distance medley relay (DMR) to secure the program's first ever relay national championship. Earlier in the indoor season, the team of Fortson, Hernandez, Kyle Miller and Manzano set the world record in the DMR with a 9:25.97, which bettered the previous mark by almost two seconds. Texas' three individual national titles at the outdoor national meet from Manzano (1,500m), Hernandez (800m) and Maston Wallace (pole vault) tied for the most in school history. Manzano also broke a 42-year-old school record in the mile, while Hernandez eclipsed the 20-year-old school record in the 800 meters. For the year, the Horns racked up five individual NCAA Championships and 14 All-America performances (indoor and outdoor). In addition, the Texas program produced five Longhorns that competed at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials (Trey Hardee, decathlon; Jacob Hernandez, 800m; Andra Manson, high jump; Leo Manzano, 1500m; Jake Morse, 3000m steeplechase), with Hardee, Manson and Manzano advancing to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

In 2007, Thornton was honored by his coaching peers as the 2007 United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches' Association (USTFCCCA) South Central Region Indoor Coach of the Year after leading the Longhorns to their second consecutive Big 12 Indoor Championship and producing three of the top competition marks in the nation (Donovan Kilmartin, heptathlon; Manson, high jump; Manzano, mile). He capped the successful season off with the best team finish at the NCAA Indoor Championships (third-place) and accumulated 34 points, which is tied for the second-highest UT total for an indoor national meet. The Horns finished 14th at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, but were first among Big 12 schools.

Texas was one of only two men's programs in the nation to finish in the top seven in cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field in 2005-06. Texas took seventh at the 2005 NCAA Cross Country Championships and added a fourth-place showing that next spring at the NCAA Indoor Championships, which tied for the program's best finish up to that point. UT placed third at the NCAA Outdoor Championships after garnering All-America showings in eight events. The Longhorns crowned another NCAA heptathlon champion in Kilmartin, and Texas collected 24 All-America honors during the cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field seasons.

Thornton was named the Big 12 Indoor and Outdoor Coach of the Year after the Longhorns swept the conference meets, and he also was honored as the USTFCCCA South Central Region Indoor and Outdoor Coach of the Year. In addition, Hardee, then a senior, set NCAA records in the heptathlon and the decathlon, and the Longhorns broke school records in two more outdoor events - the shot put and DMR - plus the indoor mile and 3,000 meters.

The 2005 Longhorns were one of only four men's or women's track and field programs in the country to place in the top 12 nationally in cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field. Manzano claimed the 1,500-meter title and Hardee captured the decathlon at the NCAA Outdoor Championships to help lead Texas to an eighth-place finish. The Longhorns also placed 10th at the NCAA Indoor Championships and 12th at the NCAA Cross Country Championships.

In 2004, Thornton led Texas to a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Indoor Championships behind National Championships from Kilmartin (heptathlon) and Manson (high jump). Manson went on to sweep the national meets by winning the outdoor national title in helping UT to its sixth consecutive top-25 finish at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

Despite being one of his younger teams, Thornton's 2003 squad won the Big 12 Outdoor Championship and was the runner-up at the conference indoor meet. As a result, Thornton was named Big 12 Outdoor Coach of the Year. For the fifth consecutive year, the Longhorns finished among the top 25 at the NCAA Championships, finishing tied for ninth at the indoor meet and tied for 21st at the outdoor championships. The Horns set seven school records and had seven athletes garner All-America honors. Thornton's athletes also combined for eight individual conference titles. Brendan Christian was named Big 12 Outdoor Performer of the Year after finishing with a meet-high 22 points and league titles in the 200m and as a member of the 4x100m relay team, while also earning three All-America accolades (two outdoor, one indoor). Christian also captured the 200m indoor conference crown and established a school record in that event with a 20.84 clocking. Ben Dawson and Kevin Barra both earned All-America honors as well, with Dawson setting school records in both the 3,000 and 5,000 meters.

In 2002, Thornton guided the Longhorns to a pair of conference runner-up finishes and a ninth-place showing at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. During the season, Longhorns combined to win one national title and five conference crowns, earn nine All-America honors and set two school records. Brian Hunter won the outdoor national title in the pole vault, while Tre Gardner (60m) and Jermaine Cooper (60m hurdles) both eclipsed school records during the indoor season. Cooper swept the indoor 60m and outdoor 110m-hurdle crowns at the conference meet and earned All-America honors in both events. Hunter also won the conference outdoor pole vault crown, while Einar Hjartarson and Jason Ward claimed Big 12 Indoor titles in the high jump and long jump, respectively.

In 2001, Thornton led Texas to Top Three finishes at the Big 12 Indoor (third) and Outdoor (runner-up) Championships and a pair of Top 15 finishes at both NCAA Championships (T-14th indoor/T-15th outdoor). It marked the fifth time in his first six seasons that the Longhorns finished among the Top 15 at both national meets. UT featured 11 athletes that combined for 13 All-America honors after the Horns claimed five conference champions. Leading the way was Chris Hercules, who closed out his stellar four-year run by placing second in the triple jump at both national meets. Hercules, who tied Leonard Cobb's (1996-97) school record with six horizontal jump All-America honors (also tied by Goodwin from 2010-12), also swept the long and triple jumps at the Big 12 Outdoor Championships and finished his career with eight conference titles overall. In addition, Cooper won the Big 12 indoor 60-meter hurdles championship and set the school record in the event for a second consecutive season, while Dylan Armstrong shattered UT's 35-pound weight throw and hammer school records, becoming UT's first conference hammer champion.

Thornton directed the 2000 Longhorns to second-place finishes at the Big 12 Conference indoor and outdoor meets and 14th-place showings at both NCAA Championships. Individually, high jumper Mark Boswell finished his decorated Longhorn career by capturing the Big 12 Conference indoor and outdoor crowns, as well as both NCAA titles. In fact, Boswell won his final 19 meets as a collegian and participated in the 2000 Summer Olympics for Canada. Jacob Davis (T-8th/indoor pole vault) and Hercules (2nd/outdoor triple jump) also earned All-America honors at the national meets. Davis (indoor pole vault), Hercules (outdoor triple jump), Lawrence Armstrong (100 meters) and the Longhorns' 400-meter outdoor relay team of Armstrong, Amar Johnson, Calvin Williams and Nathanael Esprit each won Big 12 titles.

In 1999, Thornton led Texas to Top Six indoor and outdoor NCAA finishes. The Horns not only captured their first Big 12 Indoor Championship, but they also secured their best finish at the indoor national meet since 1986 when they finished tied for fifth. Texas went on to win its second Big 12 outdoor crown before placing sixth at the 1999 NCAA Outdoor Championships. It marked just the second time in school history that Texas recorded Top 10 indoor and outdoor finishes in the same season (1986). Boswell (high jump) and Davis (pole vault) each secured their first NCAA titles when they swept both the indoor and outdoor national titles in their respective events.

Thornton's 1998 squad posted third-place finishes at both the Big 12 indoor and outdoor meets. The team featured three conference champions and six All-Americans, including Boswell, who was the runner-up at the NCAA Indoor Championships. The highlight of the outdoor campaign occurred when Davis, who finished third at the national outdoor meet, registered the second-best vault (19-4.25) in collegiate history at the Texas Relays.

In 1997, UT recorded three individual titles at the inaugural Big 12 Conference indoor meet en route to a fourth-place finish. Texas then went on to post a 15th-place finish at the 1997 NCAA Indoor Championships. However, Thornton had the UT squad at its peak during the outdoor campaign. The Longhorns won the first-ever Big 12 outdoor title and capped off the year with a second-place finish at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, matching its best finish in school history. Ivan Wagner highlighted the finish by capturing the NCAA high jump title.

During Thornton's first season at UT in 1996, he led the Longhorns to a runner-up finish at the Southwest Conference Indoor Championships. At the NCAA Indoor Championships, Texas finished in a 14th-place tie, an improvement of more than 40 spots from the previous season (55th). More success came during the outdoor season as Thornton and UT won the final SWC Outdoor Championships, marking its fifth consecutive title and 45th overall. That squad proceeded to finish fifth at the national meet, as seven-time All-American Richard Duncan led the way with a long jump title and a sixth-place showing in the high jump.

Running a successful program is nothing new to Thornton. He came to Texas following a 13-year run as head coach of TCU's men's and women's track and field programs, where he was renowned for producing some of the most talented sprint units in the country. Among his numerous achievements at TCU, Thornton recruited and developed 72 NCAA All-Americans and guided the men's squad to five NCAA Top 10 finishes (1983, `87, `88, `89 and `91) and 11 Top 20 finishes. He coached the Horned Frogs to 39 major relay titles, including five NCAA 400-meter relay championships (1986, `87, `89, `91 and `95) and the 1983 1,600-meter relay national title. Thornton also tutored Raymond Stewart, the No. 1-ranked sprinter in the world in 1989.

In 1986, Thornton's 400-meter quartet set a then-Texas Relays record (38.97) and went on to win the NCAA title. His team won the national sprint relay title the following year and set a then-NCAA meet record with a victory in 1989 (38.23).

Thornton's 400-relay teams also were victorious in 1991 and `95, when the Horned Frogs tied Texas for 13th place at the NCAA Championships. In addition, he coached TCU to a pair of world bests during his tenure - the indoor 400 relay (1983) and 800 relay (1986).

The TCU graduate also saw his share of success as a collegiate athlete. He played football and ran track for the Horned Frogs from 1967-69 after earning honorable mention All-America honors as a defensive back at Navarro Junior College. As a wide receiver and defensive back for TCU, his 78-yard punt return for a touchdown helped the Frogs to a 24-17 upset victory against Texas in 1967. He went on to lead the Southwest Conference in kickoff returns as a senior. As a sprint and relay performer in 1968-69, he was the top point producer for TCU.

Thornton was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the 14th round of the 1969 American Football League draft and started as a rookie wide receiver. He led the Bills and finished third in the AFL in kickoff returns with a 25-yard average. After professional football, he doubled as athletics director (1977-81) and head football coach (1979-81) at Keller High School, his alma mater. He returned to TCU as head track and field coach for the 1982-83 season.

The Keller, Texas, native became the inaugural member of the Keller Hall of Fame in October 1999. In addition, he is a member of TCU's Lettermen's Association Hall of Fame, as well as an Alumni Frog O' Fame Award recipient. Thornton received a bachelor's degree in physical education from TCU in 1969 and he and his wife of 43 years, Kay, have two daughters, Courtney and Piper.

The Bubba Thornton File

Coaching Experience
• Head Coach, The University of Texas, 1996-present
• Head Coach, TCU, 1982-95

Coaching Highlights
• 2008 Beijing Olympics Men's Track and Field Head Coach (led the U.S. men's track and field team to the most medals (14) and the most gold medals (four))
• 2003 World Outdoor Track & Field Men's Head Coach (helped lead Americans to medal count victory and best medal finish at World Championships since 1993)
• 2000 Summer Olympic Games Assistant Coach (USA)
(tutored eventual U.S. gold medalists in 400m, 400m hurdles, 4x400m relay)
• 1996 U.S. World Junior Championships Head Coach
• 24 Top 10 NCAA finishes
• 38 Top 20 NCAA finishes
• 10-time Big 12 Conference Coach of the Year
(Indoor:1999, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2013; Outdoor: 1997, 1999, 2003, 2006, 2013)
• 12 conference titles
(Big 12 Indoor: 1999, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013; Big 12 Outdoor: 1997, 1999, 2003, 2006, 2013; SWC Outdoor: 1996)
• 2007 USTFCCCA South Central Region Indoor Coach of the Year
• 2006 USTFCCCA South Central Region Indoor and Outdoor Coach of the Year
• 1999 NCAA District VI Coach of the Year
• 36 NCAA Individual (29) and Relay (7) Championships
• 294 All-America Honors (222 at UT/72 at TCU)

Other Experience
• Athletic Director (1977-81) and Head Football Coach (1979-81), Keller High School, Keller, Texas
• Wide Receiver, Buffalo Bills (1969-70)
• Football and track standout at TCU (1967-69)

NCAA Team Finishes

NCAA individual and relay champions