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Damion McLean, Jumps
Alma Mater: Appalachian, 2002
Years at ASU: Sixth Year

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In his sixth year as a coach, Damion McLean brings a wealth of knowledge about Southern Conference track to his position. A 2002 graduate of Appalachian, McLean was a conference champion in the long jump in both indoor and outdoor track during his collegiate career and qualified for the NCAA Championships. He holds third place on the Appalachian’s all-time list with a mark of 25’1” (personal best of 25’8”). The 4x300m team on which McLean competed holds the indoor record in that event. He also competed in the triple jump, high jump, 100m, and on the 4 x 1 relay team.

In the past four years under Mclean, he has produced 19 SoCon Champions, 51 All-Conference performances, 3 SoCon MVP’s, 14 Regional standard performances, 4 NCAA competitors, and ASU record holders in the indoor long jump; Vonteena Knotts, 20’8” (16th in the nation) and
triple jump Ronda White, 44’2” (12th in the nation).

Some of McLean’s coaching success can be credited to two well-known jump coaches in the nation. Robert Johnson of Oregon, and Irving “Boo” Schexnayder, formerly of LSU. Johnson was here at ASU as McLean’s coach and his undergrad assistant year, before going to UCLA, for two years, and Oregon. With the help of Schexnayder, McLean has improved his workouts for his jumpers tremendously.

The accolades of these two coaches are well respected, with Johnson coaching conference champions, NCAA qualifiers, All-Americans, a NCAA champion, along with a collegiate record.

Under the direction of Schexnayder, he has a similar resume of conference champions, NCAA champions, All-Americans, but most of all, World and Olympic medalists. During his fifth season, McLean served as an undergrad assistant for the Mountaineers before graduating in May of 2002, he worked in advertising before returning to Boone to coach. He is a member of the USATF Association and has his USATF Level 2 certification in the jumps. The Lincolnton, N.C. native holds a degree in Communication, advertising with a minor in business. He also has a daughter, Bryanna Mclean (9).

McLean still competes on an individual basis trying to reach the ultimate goal of the Olympics. This past year, he qualified for the ’07 Indoor and Outdoor USATF Championships and also qualified for the 2008 Olympic Trials in the long jump, which will be held in Eugene, Oregon.



Athlete Improvement Under McLean

Athlete Event HS PR ASU PR
**Vonteena Knotts LJ 19-4 20-8i
TJ 36-3 40-9o
** Josh Cox TJ 47-0 50-6i
** Ricky Harris LJ 22-8 24-11i
** Mark Sturgis TJ 49-9 51-7i
** Joel Gaddy LJ 22-6 23-11o
TJ 47-0 50-1o
Jennifer Claud LJ 17-10* 19-6i
TJ 40-7* 41-11i
Tondra White TJ 39-3* 41-9o
Ronda White LJ 19-6* 20-1
TJ 43-3* 44-2i
*previous PR (not HS)
** still competing for ASU



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