Support Staff

TRACK & FIELD SUPPORT STAFF

ANDY BLOOM

Volunteer Assistant Coach
1999 USATF ATHLETE BIOGRAPHY

For the second year in a row, Andy Bloom will work with the throws athletes. The three-time All-American and 10-time ACC champ at Wake Forest is currently one of two people in the world to be ranked in both the shot put and discus. His list of accomplishments in 1999 includes winning the USATF indoor shot put, setting the meet record in taking the World University Games shot title, finishing second in the discus at the same event and taking fourth in the shot at the World Championships. Additionally, he earned a silver medal in the discus at the 1998 Goodwill Games and the 1997 World University Games and was picked as an alternate at the 1996 Olympics. A native of Niskayuna, N.Y., Bloom earned a bachelor's in math in 1996 and a master's in education in 1998 from WFU.

DOROTHY DENKO

Manager Dorothy Denko is in her first year as a manager for the Lady Vol track and field team after serving in a similar capacity for the cross country team during the fall. A former member of both teams for Tennessee, Denko ran two years on The Hill after transferring from UT-Martin in 1997. She turned in UT's fastest reading in the 10,000 meters in 1998 and also competed in the 3000 and 5000 meters during her time in Knoxville. A native of Krakow, Poland, her duties include practice set-up, helping with filming and timing at practices and meets, and various administrative tasks.

JOSH ESLINGER

Manager Josh Eslinger is in his first year as manager of the Lady Volunteer track and field team. His duties include meet and practice setup and assisting with filming and timing at practices and events. A native of Knoxville and a graduate of Carter High School, Josh is pursuing a degree in civil engineering and is a member of UT's student engineering council. He is the cousin of Denise Gideon, who served as the team's manager the past four years.

QUINTESSA HARPS

Student Assistant Coach Quintessa Harps is in her second season as a student assistant after injuries prematurely ended her track and field career at Tennessee. The Griffin, Ga., native competed for the Lady Vols in 1997 and 1998 after redshirting in 1996 because of a variety of ailments. As a sophomore, Harps registered personal bests in the 100m and 200m dashes and recorded first-place finishes in those events at the Tennessee Twilight Invitational. A sociology major, Harps assists the coaching staff with the maintenance of recruiting files and performs other office duties.

CATHERINE JOHNSON, ATC, LMT

Assistant Athletic Trainer Catherine Johnson is in her second season as a full-time member of the athletic training staff. Her primary duties will include working with the track and field team and overseeing the student athletic trainer education program. She has been a member of the staff at Tennessee since 1994, serving as a graduate assistant and intern, and received her master's degree in sports psychology from UT in 1997. Johnson graduated from Guilford College in 1994 with a degree in sports medicine. Since being hired full time, she has completed massage therapy school and is now a Licensed Massage Therapist. The Thomasville, N.C., native and her husband, Tyler, reside in Louisville, Tenn.

YUKI MATSUSHITA

Graduate Assistant Coach Yuki Matsushita is in his first season as a graduate assistant coach after serving the previous three years as team manager. Prior to that, he had two years of involvement with the men's track and field program at UT, first as an athlete and then as a volunteer coach. Matsushita is working toward a master's degree in exercise science with an emphasis in kinesiology. He is hoping to use his position both to learn from UT's coaches and to further study biomechanics for his degree. The Kobe, Japan, native graduated from Science University in Tokyo with a bachelor's in physics in 1994.

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