IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Eric Werskey has been named assistant track and field coach at the University of Iowa, UI director of track and field Joey Woody announced Monday.
Werskey, who will lead the throws program, joins the Iowa staff after spending the last two seasons at California State University, Northridge. In 2016, Werskey coached two conference champions in the discus and helped guide three athletes to top three finishes in the shot put.
“I am really excited to add Eric to our program,” Woody said. “He is a guy who has done it at the highest level as an athlete in college and on the international stage. He had the opportunity to train alongside medalists from the Olympic team, and in a short amount of time he has become one of the best throws coaches in the country. We’re fortunate he is a Hawkeye.”
“I would like to thank head coach Woody, the Iowa track and field staff, and Assistant Athletic Director Mark Hankins for the opportunity to join the University of Iowa athletics family,” Werskey said. “During the interviewing process I felt at home and sensed a great bond amongst the coaching staff. I am very excited to join an already successful and storied program, and looking forward to adding to its already established throws program at the Big Ten and NCAA Championship levels.”
After graduating from Auburn in 2011, Werskey trained with some of the world’s best throwers at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, California, where he also worked in developing some throwers.
As an undergrad at Auburn and Indiana, Werskey was a three-time All-American in the shot put.
“I grew up in Big Ten country, and to have the opportunity to represent the University of Iowa in this capacity is a dream come true,” Werskey said. “The Big Ten has established itself as arguably the best throws conference in the NCAA and I am eager to accept the challenges for years to come."