UC Davis Athletics

Director of Athletics Kevin Blue announced on July 31, 2019, that Ngoni Makusha, a 2008 Olympian, two-time track athlete of the year and former Drake assistant track and field coach, is UC Davis' new men's and women's track & field head coach. 

Makusha has enjoyed some unprecedented success at the helm of the Aggies' track and field program. He has guided two Aggies to All-American honors - Brianna Weidler (2023) and Dani Barrett (2024) while overseeing multiple Big West Conference champions. 

He saw his first conference champion in the pole vault when Jered Española stepped to the top of the podium in 2021. Marlene Guiterrez was the next Aggie to capture a conference title under Makusha when she won the individual shot put championship at the same meet. Makusha's first full conference meet culminated in Matthew Okonkwo's Big West Athlete of the Meet honors following his victory in both the 400m and 200m. Okonkwo was later named Big West Male Track Athlete of the Year. Theo Goodwin added another individual title for the Aggies with his win in the 100m dash.

In 2022, Gutierrez won two more individual titles and Okonkwo defended his title in the 200m. Sierra Atkins came onto the scene to win the 5,000m.

The success continued in the 2023 campaign when Chelsea Daye won the long jump and Brianna Weidler brought home the 5,000m title. Weidler went on to compete in the national meet where she finished 21st in the nation, earning her All-American Honorable Mention recognition while setting a new school record.

Makusha guided Dani Barrett (10,000m) and Weidler (5,000m) to a couple more conference titles in 2024. Barrett, Weidler, and Madison Kackley reached the NCAA West Prelims that season before Barrett enjoyed a historic run to the national meet where she finished 11th in the nation, garnering Second Team All-American honors.

Throughout Makusha's coaching career at Florida State (his alma mater) and Drake, student-athletes enjoyed an elite level of success both in the classroom, and on the track.
 
Under Makusha's tutelage, three Seminole student-athletes qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, two received All-America First Team honors and another collected All-America Second Team distinction.
 
During his tenure at Drake, his indoor and outdoor sprinters, hurdlers and jumpers earned seven conference championships, six runner-up and six third-place finishes, 60 All-Missouri Valley selections, Most Valuable Track Athlete of the Year, Indoor Freshman of the Year and Outdoor Freshman of the Year honors.
 
Twelve of his student-athletes also advanced to the NCAA regionals. 
 
"I am very grateful for the opportunity to work at UC Davis, a prestigious institution with outstanding academics, world-class student-athletes who get the training to become world-class professionals, and an unmatched student-focused culture," said Makusha.
 
"I am excited to work with the team and build a positive and collaborative program. We have an outstanding roster and will continue to recruit local, national, and international talent to our sunny and vibrant California campus. Thank you to Dr. Kevin Blue and his staff for believing in me… GO AGS!"
 
In 2008, Makusha represented Zimbabwe in the Summer Olympics, and finished fourth in the long jump after moving to the United States from his native home on a track scholarship to Florida State. Three years later, he returned to international competition at the IAAF World Championships, advanced to the semifinal round of the 100m and won a bronze medal in the long jump.
 
Makusha's storied track & field career began at Florida State, where he won seven NCAA titles in the long jump, 100m and 4x100 relay, six ACC championships, and played a key role in the Seminoles' 2008 national championship season.
 
The five-time All-American set a NCAA and ACC record in the 100m in 2011; his time was the NCAA's standard for six years and is the league's current benchmark.
 
Following his senior season, three organizations recognized his unparalleled (and consistent) success by presenting their top honor to Makusha: The Bowerman Award, NCAA Male Track Athlete of the Year, and ACC Male Athlete of the Year.
 
The Bowerman is presented annually by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Coaches Association to the most outstanding male and female NCAA track & field athletes in the nation; ACC officials selected Makusha from a pool of student-athletes comprised from its sponsored men's sports.
 
Makusha graduated from Florida State with an economics degree in 2011 and received his master's in leadership development at Drake in 2019.