He is the University of Oregon’s Associate Athletic Director.
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On Wednesday, it was announced that Lananna will return to coach the US Men’s Team for the 2016 Olympics in Rio De Janeiro.
Lananna: “What I’ve tried to do throughout my career is create a platform for the athletes whether they’re at the institution that I’ve been at or whether it’s been on the national or global level for them to be successful”. The former Oregon track & field head coach and current president of TrackTown USA is one of the most famous names in the sport.
Lananna served as an assistant coach for Team USA at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, and was head coach at the 2011 IAAF World Championships in Daegu, South Korea.
Southern Illinois coach Connie Price-Smith will coach the U.S. women’s team in Rio.
Check out the USATF press release, which also includes a full list of coaches for both the men’s and women’s teams.
The women’s assistant coaches will be Bonnie Edmondson from Trinity College for the throws, Robyne Johnson from Boston University for jumps and combined events, Rose Monday, a former University of Texas-San Antonio coach, who will be in charge of distances and LaTanya Sheffield from Long Beach State University who will look after sprints and hurdles.
They won a total of 29 medals, including nine gold.
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Since last coaching at Oregon in 2012, Lananna has turned his attention to bringing big events to Eugene and Oregon, with his crown jewel being the 2021 IAAF World Championships taking place at Hayward Field. “It will be a pleasure to work with the athletes who comprise the world’s No. 1 team”. He led Team USA at the 1990 and 1996 World Cross Country Championships and was the junior team coach at the 1994 World Cross Country Championships.
