Tennessee Volunteers men's track and field
# Tennessee Volunteers men's track and field

The Tennessee Volunteers men's track and field program represents the University of Tennessee in the sport of track and field. The indoor and outdoor programs compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The Vols host their home outdoor meets at the newly renovated Tom Black Track at LaPorte Stadium, located on the university's Knoxville, Tennessee campus. Their rich tradition of success features 4 national titles, 7 finishes as national runner-ups, 62 NCAA individual champions, numerous All-Americans, 25 Olympians, 43 SEC championships (a conference-leading 25 outdoor wins), and 109 combined scoring appearances in the NCAA indoor and outdoor championships. The team is led by current head coach Duane Ross who took over the program after Beth Alford-Sullivan in May 2022.

## History

The Tennessee Volunteers men's track and field program began in 1901 and first started intercollegiate competition in 1909 when the SIAA was formed. Records before the 1921 season were not kept, and are therefore incomplete. The Vols did not compete in the 1918 and 1919 seasons due to World War I. The team later joined the Southeastern Conference in 1933 where they have competed for the past 75 years. The sport was also kept on hold from 1943–1946 because of World War II and would later resume outdoor meets in 1947 and indoor meets in 1960.

Since the formation of the SEC the Tennessee Volunteers have been a consistent force in competition winning a combined 43 SEC titles, 3 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships and 1 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championship.

Several coaches are responsible for the historical success of the UT track & field program. Chuck Rohe finished with a record of 87–10 (.896) and won an astonishing 15 consecutive SEC titles. Stan Huntsman took over the program in 1971 and would continue the success started by Rohe. During his tenure he led the Vols to a record of 93-26-3 (.775), 20 SEC titles and won the program's first NCAA title. In 1986 Doug Brown became the 4th coach for the Vols track & field team and finished with a 53–8 (.869) record and won 4 SEC titles and 1 NCAA title. Bill Webb took the program over following the 1995 season and would finish with a 52–1 (.981) record and an unprecedented 4 SEC titles and 2 NCAA titles, becoming the first coach to win multiple national titles at Tennessee.

Christian Coleman became the first Vol to win The Bowerman, an award that honors collegiate track & field's most outstanding athlete of the year. In 2017, Coleman swept NCAA titles in the 60 meters indoors and 100 meters outdoors, setting collegiate records in both.

## Head coaches

Source

| # | Coach | Years | Seasons | National Championships | National Championships | Conference Championships | Conference Championships |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| # | Coach | Years | Seasons | Indoor | Outdoor | Indoor | Outdoor |
| 1 | John Bender | 1920 | 1 | – | – | – | – |
| 2 | M. B. Banks | 1921 | 1 | – | – | – | – |
| 3 | A.W. Hobt | 1922-1926 | 5 | – | – | – | – |
| 4 | Bill Britton | 1927-1935 | 9 | – | – | – | – |
| 5 | Blair Gullion | 1936-1938 | 3 | – | – | – | – |
| 6 | John Barnhill | 1939-1941 | 3 | – | – | – | – |
| 7 | Sim Efland | 1942 | 1 | – | – | – | – |
| 8 | Walter Mehl | 1947 | 1 | – | – | – | – |
| 9 | Carlton Crowell | 1948-1950 | 3 | – | – | – | – |
| 10 | Louis Schneider | 1951 | 1 | – | – | – | – |
| 11 | John Sines | 1952-1959 | 8 | – | – | – | – |
| 12 | Ralph Patterson | 1960-1962 | 3 | – | – | – | – |
| 13 | Chuck Rohe | 1963-1971 | 9 | – | – | 8 | 7 |
| 14 | Stan Huntsman | 1971-1985 | 15 | – | 1 | 7 | 13 |
| 15 | Doug Brown | 1986-1995 | 10 | – | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 16 | Bill Webb | 1996-2009 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 17 | J.J. Clark | 2010-2014 | 5 | – | – | – | – |
| 18 | Beth Alford-Sullivan | 2015-2022 | 8 | – | – | – | – |
| 19 | Duane Ross | 2023- | 1 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 1 | 3 | 18 | 25 |

## Yearly Record

Source

| Season | Coach | NCAA | NCAA | Conference | Conference |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Season | Coach | Indoor | Outdoor | Indoor | Outdoor |
| SIAA ||||||
| 1920 | John Bender | – | – | – | 14th |
| 1921 | M. B. Banks | – | – | – | – |
| 1922 | A.W. Hobt | – | – | – | 6th |
| Southern Conference ||||||
| 1923 | A.W. Hobt | – | – | – | 3rd (14) |
| 1924 | A.W. Hobt | – | – | – | T-6th (9) |
| 1925 | A.W. Hobt | – | – | – | – |
| 1926 | A.W. Hobt | – | – | – | 18th (1.5) |
| 1927 | Bill Britton | – | – | – | – |
| 1928 | Bill Britton | – | – | – | T-14th (5) |
| 1929 | Bill Britton | – | – | – | T-10th (7) |
| 1930 | Bill Britton | – | – | – | 7th (16.5) |
| 1931 | Bill Britton | – | – | – | 11th (6) |
| 1932 | Bill Britton | – | – | – | T-14th (5) |
| Southeastern Conference ||||||
| 1933 | Bill Britton | – | – | – | T-5th (15) |
| 1934 | Bill Britton | – | – | – | 6th (16.3) |
| 1935 | Bill Britton | – | – | – | T-6th (14) |
| 1936 | Blair Gullion | – | – | – | T-5th (21) |
| 1937 | Blair Gullion | – | – | – | T-8th (6) |
| 1938 | Blair Gullion | – | – | – | 9th (5) |
| 1939 | John Barnhill | – | – | – | 11th (2) |
| 1940 | John Barnhill | – | – | – | 10th (5.167) |
| 1941 | John Barnhill | – | – | – | 5th (17.5) |
| 1942 | Sim Efland | – | – | – | 9th (8) |
| 1943-1946 No Team ||||||
| 1947 | Walter Mehl | – | – | – | 8th (7.5) |
| 1948 | Carlton Crowell | – | – | – | T-9th (9) |
| 1949 | Carlton Crowell | – | – | – | T-6th (16) |
| 1950 | Carlton Crowell | – | T-32nd (2.1) | – | 5th (28.3) |
| 1951 | Louis Schneider | – | 41st (1/6th) | – | 3rd (33) |
| 1952 | John Sines | – | – | – | 4th (33.5) |
| 1953 | John Sines | – | – | – | T-3rd (25) |
| 1954 | John Sines | – | – | – | 9th (7) |
| 1955 | John Sines | – | – | – | 7th (16) |
| 1956 | John Sines | – | T-46th (1) | – | 8th (13) |
| 1957 | John Sines | – | – | – | 9th (9) |
| 1958 | John Sines | – | – | – | 8th (18.82) |
| 1959 | John Sines | – | – | – | 9th (7) |
| 1960 | Ralph Patterson | – | – | – | T-9th (1) |
| 1961 | Ralph Patterson | – | – | – | 11th (5) |
| 1962 | Ralph Patterson | – | – | – | 10th (2) |
| 1963 | Chuck Rohe | – | – | 7th (0) | 8th (7) |
| 1964 | Chuck Rohe | – | – | 1st (41) | 1st (61) |
| 1965 | Chuck Rohe | – | T-40th (4) | 1st (50) | 1st (72) |
| 1966 | Chuck Rohe | 39th (1) | T-32nd (6) | 1st (42) | 1st (91) |
| 1967 | Chuck Rohe | – | T-5th (24) | 1st (58) | 1st (72) |
| 1968 | Chuck Rohe | 6th (12.75) | T-14th (10) | 1st (75) | 1st (108) |
| 1969 | Chuck Rohe | T-4th (16) | 9th (28) | 1st (111) | 1st (118.5) |
| 1970 | Chuck Rohe | T-4th (14) | 13th (16) | 1st (92.5) | 1st (74) |
| ^1971 | Rohe/Huntsman | 10th (8.25) | 13th (16) | 1st (80) | 1st (148) |
| 1972 | Stan Huntsman | T-23rd (4) | T-10th (16) | 2nd (62) | 1st (154) |
| 1973 | Stan Huntsman | T-8th (8) | 5th (24) | 1st (80) | 1st (190) |
| 1974 | Stan Huntsman | T-9th (7) | 1st (60) | 1st (69) | 1st (207.5) |
| 1975 | Stan Huntsman | T-40th (7) | 6th (60) | 4th (33.5) | 1st (215) |
| 1976 | Stan Huntsman | 3rd (40) | 3rd (40) | 2nd (40) | 1st (179) |
| 1977 | Stan Huntsman | – | 14th (13) | 2nd (54.5) | 1st (168) |
| 1978 | Stan Huntsman | 28th (6) | T-17th (4) | 2nd (112) | 1st (173) |
| 1979 | Stan Huntsman | T-4th (24) | T-11th (20) | 2nd (106) | 2nd (133) |
| 1980 | Stan Huntsman | 3rd (38) | T-18th (11) | 3rd (102) | 3rd (87) |
| 1981 | Stan Huntsman | 3rd (33) | 3rd (50) | 1st (140) | 1st (156) |
| 1982 | Stan Huntsman | T-5th (23) | 2nd (94) | 1st (138) | 1st (171.5) |
| 1983 | Stan Huntsman | 5th (26) | 2nd (102) | 1st (127) | 1st (121) |
| 1984 | Stan Huntsman | T-20th (8) | 27th (19) | 1st (114) | 1st (112) |
| 1985 | Stan Huntsman | 2nd (23) | T-9th (25) | 1st (127) | 1st (129.5) |
| 1986 | Doug Brown | 10th (10) | T-21st (13) | 1st (119) | 1st (158) |
| 1987 | Doug Brown | T-26th (6) | T-27th (19) | 2nd (110) | 2nd (128.5) |
| 1988 | Doug Brown | 51st (1) | – | 3rd (97) | 4th (88) |
| 1989 | Doug Brown | – | 56th (3) | 2nd (114) | 4th (78) |
| 1990 | Doug Brown | T-13th (10) | T-11th (21) | 2nd (92) | 2nd (124.3) |
| 1991 | Doug Brown | T-31st (7) | 1st (51) | 1st (146) | 1st (183) |
| 1992 | Doug Brown | 35th (2) | 2nd (46.5) | 3rd (108) | 2nd (149) |
| 1993 | Doug Brown | 3rd (25) | 4th (44) | 2nd (81) | 3rd (183) |
| 1994 | Doug Brown | 2nd (40) | 3rd (38) | 2nd (87) | 2nd (145) |
| 1995 | Doug Brown | 2nd (26) | 5th (31) | 2nd (88) | 2nd (155.5) |
| 1996 | Bill Webb | 11th (19) | T-10th (19) | 1st (92) | 2nd (124.3) |
| 1997 | Bill Webb | T-10th (16) | T-47th (5) | 3rd (71.5) | 4th (88) |
| 1998 | Bill Webb | – | T-51st (4) | 5th (108) | 4th (149) |
| 1999 | Bill Webb | T-15th (15) | T-12th (22) | 4th (81) | 3rd (183) |
| 2000 | Bill Webb | 13th (14) | 15th (17) | 5th (58) | 3rd (107.75) |
| 2001 | Bill Webb | 9th (19) | 1st (50) | 3rd (88) | 1st (155.5) |
| 2002 | Bill Webb | 1st (62.5) | 2nd (57) | 2nd (130) | 1st (147) |
| 2003 | Bill Webb | 5th (23) | T-7th (30) | 4th (69) | 2nd (111.5) |
| 2004 | Bill Webb | T-56th (2) | T-13th (20) | 6th (60) | 4th (108) |
| 2005 | Bill Webb | T-16th (14) | T-19th (14) | 3rd (89) | 3rd (109) |
| 2006 | Bill Webb | 5th (25) | 6th (30) | 2nd (106) | 2nd (126.5) |
| 2007 | Bill Webb | T-10th (21) | 4th (31) | 2nd (115.5) | 1st (129.5) |
| 2008 | Bill Webb | 5th (26) | 13th (21) | 3rd (99.5) | 3rd (97.5) |
| 2009 | Bill Webb | 38th (5) | 48th (5) | 3rd (78) | 8th (53) |
| 2010 | J.J. Clark | – | 45th (5) | 10th (24.5) | 9th (46) |
| 2011 | J.J. Clark | T-39th (5) | T-64th (1) | 7th (46.3) | 8th (49) |
| 2012 | J.J. Clark | – | T-56th (3) | 7th (40.5) | 10th (30) |
| 2013 | J.J. Clark | T-40th (5) | T-77th (.75) | T-8th (32) | T-11th (33) |
| 2014 | J.J. Clark | – | T-18th (12) | 9th (34) | 11th (24.5) |
| 2015 | Beth Alford-Sullivan | 17th (11) | T-18th (10.5) | 7th (48) | 12th (28.5) |
| 2016 | Beth Alford-Sullivan | 3rd (34) | 6th (30) | 8th (24.5) | 9th (46) |
| 2017 | Beth Alford-Sullivan | T-10th (20) | T-7th (20) | 10th (23.5) | T-9th (25.5) |
| 2018 | Beth Alford-Sullivan | T-53rd (3) | 55th (3) | 7th (44) | 6th (65.5) |
| 2019 | Beth Alford-Sullivan | T-35th (7) | T-61st (1) | 6th (50) | 7th (68) |
| 2020 | Beth Alford-Sullivan | – | – | 5th (67) | – |
| 2021 | Beth Alford-Sullivan | 9th (21) | 11th (21) | 6th (50) | T-6th (67) |
| 2022 | Beth Alford-Sullivan | 3rd (31) | 3rd (34) | 6th (50) | 3rd (83) |
| 2023 | Duane Ross | 11th (18) | T-22nd (11) | 5th (54) | 3rd (87) |
| Total | Total | 1 | 3 | 18 | 25 |

Note: The 2020 season was canceled after the SEC Indoor Championships due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, the SEC Outdoor and both NCAA Championships were not held.

^Chuck Rohe coached the 1971 team through the indoor season, while Stan Huntsman took over the program for the outdoor championships.

## NCAA Individual Event Champions

The Vols have claimed 26 NCAA Indoor individual championships and 36 NCAA Outdoor individual champions all-time.

Indoor :

| Year | Name | Event | Time/Mark |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1968 | Richmond Flowers | 60y Hurdles | 7.0 |
| 1969 | Womble, Kelly, Hardy, McAlhaney | Mile Relay | 3:14.6 |
| 1976 | Preyor, Barlow, Harris, Morgan | Mile Relay | 3:16.03 |
| 1979 | Hunter, Barlow, Harris, Morgan | Distance Medley Relay | 9:47.1 |
| 1980 | Anthony Blair | 440y | 48.7 |
| 1982 | David Patrick | 880y | 1:49.94 |
| 1983 | Willie Gault | 60y | 6.18 |
| 1983 | Willie Gault | 60y Hurdles | 6.98 |
| 1985 | Sam Graddy | 60y | 6.12 |
| 1994 | José Parrilla | 800m | 1:47.77 |
| 1994 | Randy Jenkins | High Jump | 2.31m (7-7) |
| 1994 | Lawrence Johnson | Pole Vault | 5.82m (19-1.50) |
| 1995 | Tim Mack | Pole Vault | 5.60m (18-4.50) |
| 1996 | Lawrence Johnson | Pole Vault | 5.65m (18-6.50) |
| 1997 | Aaron Ausmus | Shot Put | 19.01m (62-4.50) |
| 1999 | Leonard Scott | 60m | 6.58 |
| 2002 | Justin Gatlin | 60m | 6.59 |
| 2002 | Justin Gatlin | 200m | 30.63 |
| 2003 | Gary Kikaya | 400m | 45.71 |
| 2003 | Jabari Greer | 60m Hurdles | 7.55 |
| 2006 | Aries Merritt | 60m Hurdles | 7.51 |
| 2008 | Rubin Williams | 200m | 20.36 |
| 2016 | Christian Coleman | 200m | 20.55 |
| 2017 | Christian Coleman | 60m | 6.45 |
| 2017 | Christian Coleman | 200m | 20.11 |
| 2022 | Wayne Pinnock | Long Jump | 7.92m (26-0) |

Outdoor :

| Year | Name | Event | Time/Mark |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1970 | Bill Skinner | Javelin | 82.49m (270-8) |
| 1972 | Willie Thomas | 800m | 1:48.72 |
| 1973 | Doug Brown | 3000m Steeplechase | 8:28.1 |
| 1974 | Reggie Jones | 100y | 9.18 |
| 1974 | Willie Thomas | 880y | 1:48.72 |
| 1974 | Doug Brown | 3000m Steeplechase | 8:35.94 |
| 1975 | Reggie Jones | 220y | 20.60 |
| 1976 | Young, Gardner, Morgan, Jones | 4x100 Relay | 39.16 |
| 1976 | Phil Olsen | Javelin | 83.26m (273-2) |
| 1980 | Horne, Wilson, Preyor, Blair | 4x400m Relay | 3:03.94 |
| 1981 | Canady, Wilson, Preyor, Blair | 4x400m Relay | 3:03.08 |
| 1982 | David Patrick | 400m Hurdles | 48.44 |
| 1983 | Grady, Towns, Scott, Gault | 4x100m Relay | 39.22 |
| 1984 | Sam Graddy | 100m | 10.25 |
| 1985 | Terry Scott | 100m | 10.02 |
| 1991 | Aric Long | Decathlon | 7,916 |
| 1992 | José Parrilla | 800m | 1:46.45 |
| 1992 | Brian Brophy | Decathlon | 8,276 |
| 1993 | José Parrilla | 800m | 1:46.51 |
| 1993 | Randy Jenkins | High Jump | 2.28m (7-5.75) |
| 1994 | José Parrilla | 800m | 1:46.01 |
| 1994 | Randy Jenkins | High Jump | 2.31m (7-7) |
| 1995 | Lawrence Johnson | Pole Vault | 5.69m (18-8.25) |
| 1996 | Lawrence Johnson | Pole Vault | 5.81m (19-1) |
| 1999 | Tom Pappas | Decathlon | 8,184 |
| 2001 | Justin Gatlin | 100m | 10.08 |
| 2001 | Justin Gatlin | 200m | 20.11 |
| 2002 | Justin Gatlin | 100m | 10.08 |
| 2002 | Justin Gatlin | 200m | 20.18 |
| 2002 | Gary Kikaya | 400m | 44.53 |
| 2003 | Stephen Harris | Decathlon | 8,061 |
| 2006 | Aries Merritt | 110m Hurdles | 13.21 |
| 2016 | Jake Blankenship | Pole Vault | 5.60m (18-4.5) |
| 2017 | Christian Coleman | 100m | 10.04 |
| 2017 | Christian Coleman | 200m | 20.25 |
| 2022 | Wayne Pinnock | Long Jump | 8.00m (26-3) |

## Conference Individual Event Champions

Tennessee Vol athletes have won a total of 174 SEC Indoor individual titles, and 228 SEC Outdoor individual crowns through the end of the 2022 season.

Indoor :

| Event | Titles |
| - | - |
| 55-Meter Hurdles | 5 |
| 60-Yard Hurdles | 11 |
| 60-Yard Low Hurdles | 1 |
| 55 Meters | 6 |
| 60 Meters | 4 |
| 200 Meters | 6 |
| 400 Meters | 5 |
| 600 Yards | 9 |
| 800 Meters | 12 |
| 1000 Meters | 6 |
| Mile | 6 |
| 3000 Meters | 11 |
| 5000 Meters | 6 |
| 4x400-Meter Relay | 8 |
| 4x800-Meter Relay | 14 |
| Distance Medley Relay | 4 |
| High Jump | 11 |
| Long Jump | 5 |
| Triple Jump | 10 |
| Pole Vault | 18 |
| Shot Put | 9 |
| Weight Throw | 3 |
| Pentathlon | 3 |
| Heptathlon | 3 |

Outdoor :

| Event | Titles |
| - | - |
| 110-Meter Hurdles | 17 |
| 400-Meter Hurdles | 4 |
| 100 Meters | 10 |
| 200 Meters | 12 |
| 400 Meters | 4 |
| 800 Meters | 19 |
| 1500 Meters | 16 |
| 3000 Meters | 6 |
| 3000m Steeplechase | 11 |
| 5000 Meters | 6 |
| 10000 Meters | 10 |
| 4x100-Meter Relay | 15 |
| 4x400-Meter Relay | 9 |
| High Jump | 9 |
| Long Jump | 8 |
| Triple Jump | 9 |
| Pole Vault | 19 |
| Shot Put | 5 |
| Discus | 5 |
| Hammer Throw | 4 |
| Javelin | 15 |
| Decathlon | 15 |

## Tennessee Volunteer Olympians

Through the 2020 Summer Olympics, 25 Tennessee athletes have represented 6 different nations at the Olympic Games, winning a total of 4 gold, 4 silver, and 2 bronze medals.

### Medalists

| Athlete | Country | Olympics | Event | Medal |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Justin Gatlin | United States | 2004 Athens | 100 m | Gold |
| Justin Gatlin | United States | 2004 Athens | 4x100 m relay | Silver |
| Justin Gatlin | United States | 2004 Athens | 200 m | Bronze |
| Justin Gatlin | United States | 2012 London | 100 m | Bronze |
| Justin Gatlin | United States | 2016 Rio de Janeiro | 100 m | Silver |
| Sam Graddy | United States | 1984 Los Angeles | 4x100 m relay | Gold |
| Sam Graddy | United States | 1984 Los Angeles | 100 m | Silver |
| Lawrence Johnson | United States | 2000 Sydney | Pole vault | Silver |
| Timothy Mack | United States | 2004 Athens | Pole vault | Gold |
| Aries Merritt | United States | 2012 London | 110 m hurdles | Gold |

### Participants

| Athlete | Country | Olympics |
| - | - | - |
| Jangy Addy | Liberia | 2008 Beijing |
| Jangy Addy | Liberia | 2012 London |
| Tavis Bailey | United States | 2016 Rio de Janeiro |
| Doug Brown | United States | 1972 Munich |
| Doug Brown | United States | 1976 Montreal |
| Doug Brown | United States | ^1980 Moscow |
| Christian Coleman | United States | 2016 Rio de Janeiro |
| Tony Cosey | United States | 2000 Sydney |
| Anthony Famiglietti | United States | 2004 Athens |
| Anthony Famiglietti | United States | 2008 Beijing |
| Willie Gault | United States | ^1980 Moscow |
| Trevor James | Trinidad and Tobago | 1972 Munich |
| Paul Jordan | United States | ^1980 Moscow |
| Paul Jordan | United States | 1984 Los Angeles |
| Gary Kikaya | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 2004 Athens |
| Gary Kikaya | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 2008 Beijing |
| Aric Long | United States | 1992 Barcelona |
| Carey McLeod | Jamaica | 2020 Tokyo |
| Phil Olsen | Canada | 1976 Montreal |
| Tom Pappas | United States | 2000 Sydney |
| Tom Pappas | United States | 2004 Athens |
| Tom Pappas | United States | 2008 Beijing |
| José Parrilla | United States | 1992 Barcelona |
| José Parrilla | United States | 1996 Atlanta |
| David Patrick | United States | 1992 Barcelona |
| Leigh Smith | United States | 2008 Beijing |
| Darryl Sullivan | United States | 2020 Tokyo |
| John Tillman | United States | 1992 Barcelona |
| Todd Williams | United States | 1992 Barcelona |
| Todd Williams | United States | 1996 Atlanta |

^Did not compete due to boycott.

