Oct. 20, 2011

DAVIS, Calif. - Marshall Ackley, most recently a coach at the University of Oregon, and Jonathan Tipton from Sam Houston State in Texas, have joined the UC Davis track program as assistant coaches, it was announced Thursday by Drew Wartenburg, director of track and field and cross country.

Ackley will oversee the pole vaulters, multi-event specialists and jumps crew while Tipton will direct the throwers. They'll join a staff that was enhanced earlier this fall with the addition of Devin Elizondo who is a volunteer coach helping with the distance group as well as the cross country teams.

"I'm very pleased to complete our coaching staff with these latest additions," Wartenburg said. "They bring a blend of competitive and coaching experience, expertise and enthusiasm to help us continue in building our program in the Big West Conference, west region and on the national stage."

Ackley was a member of the powerhouse Oregon program from 2006-2010, helping lead the Ducks to four Pac-10 Conference championships while earning All-America honors in 2009 when he finished 12th in the decathlon at the NCAA Championships. He earned three all-conference honors in the event and one in the 400-meter hurdles.

He served this past season as a volunteer coach under renowned multi-events coach Harry Marra, an assistant at Oregon and now a coach with Oregon Track Club Elite. Marshall has also been an assistant coach and training partner to Ashton Eaton, the world record holder in the heptathlon.

Ackley earned his undegraduate degree in history from Oregon.

Tipton, who received both his undegraduate and graduate degrees in kinesiology from Sam Houston State, was a graduate assistant at his alma mater for the past two years. In his role he developed, organized and implemented training programs for the team's throwers.

As an accomplished student-athlete for the Bearkats, he enjoyed a standout senior season in 2010 by winning the NCAA Midwest Regional Championship in the discus and qualifying for the national finals. Tipton was Sam Houston State's team MVP as a senior, finished in the top 10 at the USATF Championships and currently has a career-best discus throw of 60.37 meters. He was also an NCAA Regional qualifier in the javelin.

Elizondo has been assisting with the Aggies' cross country team as well as the track team's distance group this fall after serving as the head track and field coach at Brentwood School in Los Angeles for the past 10 years. He was also an assistant coach with the high school's cross country squads. Elizondo spent his collegiate years as a member of the UCLA cross country and track & field program, where he served as a pivotal member of both teams.

Elizondo also gained athletics experience through the LA84 Foundation, serving as a education services associate where he worked with youth teams in Southern California. He graduated from UCLA in 1998 with his degree in history.

UC Davis is currently in fall practices, preparing for their spring season which begins with the Cal Opener on Mar. 3, 2012.