Former Northern Iowa track and field thrower Matt Casillas had always heard about the distinguished track tradition and fan support at Oregon.
And now, he gets to experience it up close.
Casillas was added to the Oregon men’s track and field coaching staff Thursday as a volunteer coach. Casillas’ job duties will consist of directing the Ducks’ shot put, hammer and 35-lb. throwers.
“Former teammates of mine have told me about Oregon and the great track followship, and that’s very exciting,” said Casillas, whose main events as a college athlete were the three that he will coach at Oregon. “The throwers already here are all very coachable and talented, and we’d like to see big things from them.”
One of the main reasons that Casillas joined head coach Martin Smith’s staff was the opportunity to reunite with his former college coach, Bill Lawson. Lawson is in his second year of overseeing the field events.
“Coach Lawson was an excellent collegiate coach for me, so I’m excited to work under him and learn more from him,” Casillas said. “I think a lot of it had to do with the work ethic I had under him, and I’d like to get the same out of these guys.”
Casillas, 27, continues to rank first in the weight throw on the Northern Iowa indoor list at 67 feet, seven inches. During his senior season in college in 1996, he captured two titles in the indoor shot put and the weight throw.
Now, he is excited about the challenge of becoming a coach for the Oregon track and field team, which opens its indoor season next weekend at the Iowa State Open in Ames, Iowa.
“This is a great opportunity to work with Oregon under the direction of a great staff,” Casillas said.
Men’s track adds coach
Daily Emerald
January 11, 2001
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