Michigan State University Athletics
MSU Hires Two Assistant Coaches for Track & Field
11/11/2016 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
EAST LANSING, Michigan -- Michigan State Director of Cross Country and Track and Field Walt Drenth announced two new additions to the coaching staff, Yolanda Johnson and Lonnie Pugh. Johnson will be the assistant coach of the sprinters, while Pugh work as an assistant coach of the throwers.
Before coming to Michigan State, Johnson spent the last six years as the head coach and founder of the FK Elite Track and Field Club. FK Elite is a non-profit youth track club ranging from 8-18 years old, focusing on team and character building, while at the same time managing and handling personal short falls.
"I am excited to be at MSU, and help build on what Coach Drenth and the former coaches have built over the past years," said Johnson. "I am entering into a great situation where the hurdlers and sprinters are already developed, and I get to help continue to build on that."
Johnson has also been a certified ISSA Fitness Trainer and owner at One Solid Foundation, LCC for the past 14 years, beginning the business in 2002. She provided nutritional consultation, weight training, and a variety of strength and agility skill sets. Johnson also monitored individual's progress, and made programs adjustable to each person.
She served as an assistant track coach at the University of Colorado from 1992 to 1999, her alma mater, where she was a standout student-athlete. While a coach at Colorado she trained sprinters, hurdlers, relay teams, and mid-distance athletes. She coached an athlete to three consecutive Big Eight Outdoor Championship titles in the 100 hurdles, an All-American school record-holding 4x400 relay team, and three athletes who swept the top three places at the Big Eight Conference Championship in the 100 hurdles.
As a former Buff standout, Johnson was an All-American all four years in the 100 meter hurdles. She participated in the Olympic trials in 1992, and was a member of the Flo Jo International Track and Field team. She graduated from the University of Colorado in 1992 with her Baccalaureate of Arts in sociology.
"We are really fortunate to have someone of Yolanda's caliber and character. She is student-athlete oriented, she's technical, and she has excellent perspective. She is a phenomenal addition," said Drenth. "After going across the country and looking at a variety of candidates, I don't think we could have come up with someone that would be a better fit than her. We are very fortunate to have her here."
Before returning to his alma mater Michigan State, Pugh served as an assistant track and field coach at both Adrian College and Siena Heights University. He was with the Adrian College track & field program during the 2016 season, and was with Siena Heights from 2013-2016. At both institutions, he assisted with recruiting, practice planning, and assisted in coaching the student-athletes, particularly in the throwing events.
Pugh also served as an Academic Support Specialist and tutor coordinator at Adrian College, helping to implement a new tutoring system that was campus wide. While at Siena Heights, he was a program coordinator, where he oversaw and assigned daily operations in the Office of Diversity & Inclusion.
"It is exciting to have Lonnie back in the program. He has gone out and honed his skills as a coach in a variety of different aspects of higher education. That has allowed him to grow, and now he will come back here with some innovative ideas. He has a great presence, and he is someone that the student-athletes will be excited to work with and excel under," said Drenth.
During his time at MSU, Pugh showed his excellence both on and off the field. He was a member of the Student Athletic Advisory Committee, and he was the track and field liaison for the Student Athlete Multicultural Advisory Committee.
Pugh was a three-time Big Ten Champion, twice in the in the discus throw, and once in the weight throw. He was also a three-time NCAA Division I East Preliminary Round Qualifier. The Grosse Ile, Michigan native, was named a U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Indoor and Outdoor First-Team All-American during the 2010-11 seasons. He was named Outdoor Second-Team All-American during the 2011-12 campaign, and was an Outdoor and Indoor Honorable Mention All-American at the conclusion of the 2012-13 seasons.
"I am elated to come back to Michigan State. I am looking forward to being a part of Coach Drenth's vision, and his plan for this program," said Pugh. "It is great to see where the program was when I was first came to MSU as a freshman seven years ago, and where they are now. It is astonishing to see, and it makes me very happy to come back and be a part of this phenomenal program."
As a student-athlete at MSU, Pugh was a varsity letter winner from 2009-2013, he was voted a three-time team captain, he received the coaches award in 2012, and he earned a Big Ten Sportsmanship Award in 2012-13.
"He was a phenomenal competitor when he was here. He came through in the clutch more often than you could count, and I think he will bring that same mentality as a coach. I am excited for him, and it's awesome when you get the chance to bring someone back to the program that has been a part of what we have tried to build here at State," added Drenth.
Pugh graduated from Michigan State with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication in 2013, and received his Master of Arts degree in Leadership, Concentration in Higher Education, at Siena Heights University in 2015.
Johnson replaces Vanitta Kinard, while Pugh takes over for Blaine Maag, who have taken positions at other institutions.
