Travis Geopfert Joins Track & Field Staff

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Beth Alford-Sullivan announced the addition of longtime Arkansas men's assistant Travis Geopfert as Associate Head Coach.

Geopfert, who will work primarily with the jumps and multi-event programs, has spent the last nine years on the Razorback staff where he was named the 2013 and 2014 USTFCCCA National Assistant Coach of the Year. Prior to his time in Fayetteville, he was on the Northern Iowa staff for six seasons, serving as Head Coach in 2008-09.

"It's an exciting day on Rocky Top to announce Travis Geopfert joining our track and field staff," Coach Sullivan said. "Travis is an amazing coach, an outstanding recruiter and will bring a great spark to our staff as we move forward into phase two of bringing track back at Tennessee. Travis' accomplishments from Northern Iowa to Arkansas are amongst the best of the coaches in our field. What he as accomplished under head coach Chris Bucknam and the staff at Arkansas shows that Travis has all the skill set to help propel us to the top of the podiums."

"I am thrilled to have him, his wife Nicole and his family, join our Tennessee track and field family. I'm looking forward to this opportunity to join forces."

Geopfert has coached 11 NCAA national champions, which notably includes 2016 Bowerman Award winner Jarrion Lawson, who completed the "Jesse Owens Triple" of winning the 100 meters, 200 meters and long jump at the 2016 NCAA outdoor meet.

In his 15 years of coaching, he has led student-athletes to 70 conference titles and has worked with four Olympians and six world championship qualifiers. He has a track record of producing numerous standouts in the jumps and combined events. He has coached 24 NCAA national qualifiers in long jump and 23 in the decathlon/heptathlon, with five NCAA titles. The 2012 Razorbacks finished 1-2-3-6 in the decathlon at the SEC outdoor meet.

In addition to standout individual performances, Geopfert has been part of extensive team success on the conference and national stage. This includes 15 NCAA top-10 finishes, including the 2013 NCAA indoor national championship at Arkansas, and 30 team conference championships.

"I'd first like to thank Coach Sullivan, Senior Associate AD Donna Thomas, and Tennessee AD Coach Fulmer for their confidence and belief in me to help build upon the rich tradition that is Tennessee track and field," Geopfert said. "The energy and excitement that Coach Sullivan and her staff are continually cultivating is something I'm very much looking forward to being a part of. I'd be remiss if I didn't take this opportunity to thank the administration, staff, support staff and student-athletes at the University of Arkansas for a wonderful nine years there. In particular, I'd like to thank my long time colleagues, mentors and friends Chris Bucknam and Doug Case for helping me develop into the person and coach I am today. It's a lifelong friendship that I value tremendously.

"With that being said, I'm thrilled to move forward with this exciting opportunity of fulfilling the vision that Coach Sullivan has set on Rocky Top. There is a lot of passion and enthusiasm that surrounds Tennessee Track and Field. I have great relationships with many of the former coaches and alums and our family is very much looking forward to being part of Vol Nation."

A native of Panora, Iowa, Geopfert earned his bachelor's degree from Northern Iowa in 2002. He and his wife Nicole have one daughter, Ellyn, and two sons, Jones and Jax.

Geopfert's coaching career began at Central Missouri State, where he spent two years as an assistant coach for the NCAA Division II program. He coached two national champions, one national runner-up, six All-Americans and five conference champions.

As a collegiate competitor for Northern Iowa, Geopfert earned All-America honors and was a three-time MVC champion. Including his professional athletic career, he was a two-time Drake Relays decathlon championships, three-time member of the Thorpe Cup and a six-time USA Championships qualifier in the decathlon.

HALL PROMOTED TO ASSOCIATE COACH

Coach Sullivan also announced the promotion of sprints coach Tim Hall to Associate Head Coach.

Hall has been on Coach Sullivan's staff for all four years of her tenure on Rocky Top as an assistant coach, earning 2017 USTFCCCA National Assistant Coach of the Year honors for his work with Christian Coleman. The Vol sprinter won the 2017 Bowerman Award -- track and field's Heisman Award -- en route to sweeping the four NCAA short sprint titles (indoor - 60m and 200m; outdoor - 100m and 200m). Hall has continued to train with Coleman, who set the 60m world record earlier this year.

Tennessee's women have also enjoyed standout sprint success. Felicia Brown won the 2016 NCAA 200m title in addition to a pair of SEC gold medals. Five women advanced in six sprint events and two relays to the NCAA outdoor final site this year.

"It is my pleasure to recognize all of the accomplishments Coach Hall has achieved in phase one of our time at Tennessee," Coach Sullivan said. "Through our sprints, hurdles and relays program, he has put us on the right course to the top of the podium. It's an honor to promote Coach Hall to Associate Head Coach of our men's and women's track program."

The Tennessee sprint group has rewritten much of the program's record book in the last four years. The sprinters have set 10 new marks including four this season (Nathan Strother - indoor and outdoor 400m; Shania Collins - 100m; and Alexis Duncan - 100m hurdles).

"It's an honor to receive the title and to continue to be a part of Vol Nation," Hall said.

TRACK STAFF COMPLETE

Coach Sullivan has made two hires over the last month with the announcement of Geopfert and Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator Ryan Foster, who will support the distance group.

John Newell just completed his fifth season as the Assistant Coach for throwing events, helping Stamatia Scarvelis to an SEC title and NCAA bronze medal finish in the hammer throw.

David Neville completed his first year as an Assistant Coach with sprints, hurdles and relays.

The volunteer coaching staff this season has included Jim Sullivan (pole vault) and Steve Waithe (jumps). Foster's wife, Kara Foster, will join the program this summer as a volunteer assistant for the distance runners. Layne Anderson, who has been a full-time coach on the staff the last two seasons, will serve as a volunteer coach.

"With the changes in our staff this year, it has given me the opportunity to restructure our coaching ranks and bring in some great new talents," Coach Sullivan said. "With the promotion of Coach Hall and the addition of associate head coach Travis Geopfert and assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Ryan Foster and the return of Coach Newell and Coach Neville, I have assembled a power staff that will reach great heights in recruiting, develop a championship culture and reach the top of the podium."

2018-19 Tennessee Track & Field Staff
Beth Alford-Sullivan - Director of track and field and cross country
Tim Hall - Associate Head Coach (sprints/hurdles/relays)
Travis Geopfert - Associate Head Coach (jumps/multis)
John Newell - Assistant Coach (throws)
David Neville - Assistant Coach (sprints/hurdles/relays)
Ryan Foster - Assistant Coach (distance) / Recruiting Coordinator

University of Tennessee Athletics

HALL PROMOTED TO ASSOCIATE COACH

TRACK STAFF COMPLETE

Players Mentioned

Christian Coleman

Shania Collins

Alexis Duncan

Stamatia Scarvelis

Nathan Strother

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