Entering his 18th season with Clemson Track & Field in 2026-27, Shawn Cobey has established himself as one of the premier throws coaches in collegiate track and field and one of the nation's most respected developers of elite throwing talent. Since joining Clemson in 2009, Cobey has been a member of coaching staffs that have captured 16 ACC Team Championships while developing conference champions, NCAA All-Americans, Olympians, World Championship competitors, school record holders, and international medalists.
Cobey's coaching legacy is highlighted by the development of Roje Stona, one of the most accomplished throwers in Clemson history. Under Cobey's guidance, Stona became an NCAA runner-up in the discus and set the Clemson school record before going on to capture the gold medal in the men's discus at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. His Olympic-record throw of 70.35 meters marked one of the greatest achievements in the history of the event and showcased Cobey's ability to develop athletes capable of competing at the highest level in the world.
Another of Cobey's most accomplished proteges is Veronica Fraley, who emerged as one of the top female throwers in the world during and following her Clemson career. Fraley rewrote Clemson's record book in the discus and shot put, earned All-ACC honors, and qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in both events. Her success continued internationally as she represented Team USA at two World Championships and competed at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Cobey has consistently produced NCAA-level performers across the throwing events. Courtney Lawrence earned First-Team All-America honors with a fifth-place finish in the shot put at the NCAA Outdoor Championships and captured an ACC Championship. Marie Forbes developed into one of the nation's premier hammer throwers, earning First-Team All-America recognition and an ACC hammer title while also making history as the first woman in more than 30 years to win both the hammer and discus at the Penn Relays. Ethan Cocco earned All-America honors in the javelin, while Daniel Cope became an ACC champion and Clemson school-record holder in the weight throw. Matt Auble began his Clemson career by earning Second-Team All-ACC honors in the discus.
The 2025-26 season added another significant chapter to Cobey's record of athlete development. During the indoor season, Matt Auble and Kendra Dye each finished among the top 25 in the NCAA in the weight throw, while freshman Kimeka Smith ranked among the NCAA's top 20 in the shot put.
Smith went on to produce an exceptional freshman campaign, breaking Clemson's freshman shot put records both indoors and outdoors. Her outdoor mark of 16.91 meters moved her to No. 2 on Clemson's all-time women's shot put list. Her success extended beyond the collegiate season as she finished second at the Jamaica National Championships and earned the silver medal at the NACAC U23 Championships, establishing herself as one of the top young shot putters in the region.
The 2025-26 season also saw Kendra Dye qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the hammer throw, continuing Clemson's presence on the national stage and adding another NCAA Championship qualifier to Cobey's career resume.
Cobey's ability to develop athletes across the throwing disciplines has helped establish Clemson as one of the nation's premier throws programs. In 2021 alone, his athletes added 20 marks to Clemson's all-time top-10 lists, and throughout his tenure his throwers have consistently rewritten the program's record books while competing for conference championships, NCAA honors, and international medals.
His influence on Clemson Track & Field extends beyond the throws area. In 2013, Cobey was named Interim Director of Track & Field and helped guide the women's program during one of the most successful periods in Clemson history. The Tigers completed a four-year sweep of the ACC Indoor and Outdoor Championships and produced 17 First-Team All-Americans, including NCAA champion and Bowerman Award winner Brianna Rollins.
Throughout his Clemson career, Cobey has also served in multiple leadership roles, including assistant coach, interim director of track & field, and director of operations. His experience in athlete development and program administration has given him a comprehensive understanding of building and sustaining championship-level collegiate track and field programs.
Cobey's coaching philosophy centers on long-term athlete development, technical excellence, individualized programming, strength development, competitive preparation, and academic success. His athletes' progression from developing collegiate throwers to conference champions, NCAA finalists, Olympians, and international medalists reflects his commitment to maximizing the potential of each athlete he coaches.
As Cobey enters his 18th season at Clemson, his resume reflects sustained success at every level of the sport. From ACC champions and NCAA All-Americans to Olympians and international medalists, his athletes have consistently performed on the biggest stages in track and field. His continued ability to identify, develop, and prepare elite talent has positioned Clemson among the nation's premier throwing programs and established Cobey as one of collegiate track and field's most accomplished throws coaches.