Johnson Announces Changes to Track & Field, Cross Country Staff

CLEMSON, SC – Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Lawrence Johnson announced several changes to his coaching staff on Wednesday.  Tim Hall has been promoted to associate head coach for Clemson track & field, while Brad Herbster was named associate head cross country coach.  Shawn Cobey, Clemson’s throws coach each of the past three seasons, has been named operations manager for the program.  The three have been instrumental in Clemson’s six straight ACC Championships in women’s track & field. “These coaches have been integral parts of our success as a combined men’s and women’s program,” Johnson said.  “The changes we have made within our staff will fully allow us to grow as a program.  Coach Hall and Coach Herbster have been great within their specific event areas and are well deserving of these titles.  Shawn will do a great job in his new role by better organizing our day-to-day operations.” Hall is entering his fifth season as the sprints and relays coach on Johnson’s staff.  He is a two-time recipient of the Southeast Region Assistant Coach-of-the-Year honor, including the 2012 outdoor season.  He has coached two IAAF World Junior Champions, 23 ACC Champions and 38 All-Americans in four seasons at Clemson.  He also coached Jacoby Ford to an NCAA Championship in the 60-meter dash in 2009, his first year at Clemson. Herbster has elevated Clemson’s distance groups in three years on Johnson’s staff.  Last fall, he coached the Clemson women to a fourth-place regional finish in cross country, the program’s best since 1993.  He coached Alyssa Kulik and Kim Ruck, who combined for three All-America honors and three individual ACC Championships in track & field. He also coached Ty McCormack to All-ACC status in cross country, and Chris Slate to the first berth in the NCAA Championships for a Clemson 800-meter runner in 13 years. Cobey coached the men’s and women’s Tiger throwers from 2009-12. Under his guidance, Brittney Waller won back-to-back ACC titles in the 20-pound weight throw.  On the men’s side, he coached Alex Padgett to Clemson records in the weight throw and hammer throw in 2011, as well as an outdoor conference title in the shot put.