John Frazier named Texas State’s Track & Field/Cross Country Director

Staff Reports

SAN MARCOS – Texas State Athletics has named John Frazier as its Director of Track & Field/Cross Country, Executive Senior Associate Director of Athletics for External Operations Don Coryell announced Monday.

“After an extensive national search, we are thrilled to announce the hiring of John Frazier,” said Coryell. “He had all the characteristics we were searching for in the new leader of the track and field/cross country program.”

Photo credited to Texas State Athletics

“John brings an extensive winning background from some of the top conferences in the country, and has won a national indoor title, 21 conference championships and developed 57 All-Americans, five NCAA champions, and four Olympians,” Coryell added. “His approach to the development of his student-athletes is well chronicled and impressive. His compassion and desire for the well-being and best interests of the student-athletes really stood out during our search.”

“I am extremely excited and elated as this is a great opportunity for me and my family to become Bobcats at Texas State University,” Frazier said. “Being passionate about track and field, this solidifies the next step in my career as Director of Track and Field.  The possibilities are absolutely endless, and I am thankful to be working with a team that embodies commitment and dedication to the student-athletes.  I can feel the passion, and I am ready to get started.  My goal is to build on the existing dynamic base that’s in place and to develop a strong competitive track and field program.  With pleasure and honor, I thank the people that have and still are supporting me on my journey. Let’s go, Bobcats!”

Frazier comes to Texas State with over 30 years of coaching experience after serving the past eight seasons as the throws coach and four seasons as the men’s head coach at UCLA.

While at UCLA, Frazier’s throwers won All-American awards 19 times. In 2021, Alyssa Wilson threw the fourth-best hammer throw for a collegian and was the top women’s collegiate discus thrower at the U.S. Olympic Trials.

Frazier was named the 2016 USTFCCCA West Region Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year after leading the Bruins to an 18th-place finish at the NCAA Outdoor Championships and mentoring Greek Olympic shot putter Nicholas Scarvelis, five All-Americans and three Honorable Mention All-Americans.

He went to UCLA after coaching seven seasons at Tennessee. He began as the women’s throws coach for the Volunteers before coaching both the men’s and women’s throwers in his third year and serving as the associate head coach in his last two seasons. His top athlete was Annie Alexander, a seven-time All-American and eight-time SEC champion. He also coached 2016 Olympic discus thrower Tavis Bailey, another two-time All-American in the discus and a Second-Team All-America javelin thrower.

Frazier went to Tennessee after spending six years as an assistant coach at Arizona. While he was with the Wildcats, he coached 11 All-Americans and two U.S. Junior champions.

He was named the 2005 USTCA National and West Regional Assistant Coach of the Year after coaching seven NCAA qualifiers and five All-Americans.

He coached two seasons at Florida, where he mentored two All-Americans, and his athletes set school records in the javelin, hammer throw, and weight throw. He began his coaching career at UC-Irvine and was an assistant coach at Humboldt State, CSUN, and Cal State-Los Angeles.

Frazier earned his bachelor’s degree in political science at UCLA, where he was a three-time All-American in the shot put, earning First-Team honors at the 1985 NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships and the 1986 NCAA Outdoor meet.

In his four seasons as a Bruin thrower, UCLA was 38-1 in dual meets and was the NCAA’s top-ranked team in dual meets during his freshman and senior seasons. In addition, he held two UCLA all-time best marks in the shot put (65’ 2.75”) and No. 10 in the hammer throws (208’ 6”).

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT JOHN FRAZIER

MIKE HOLLOWAY

2020 USA Men’s Olympic Head Coach

Director of Track & Field/Cross Country

University of Florida

“John Frazier is an incredible hire for Texas State University. John is a natural leader who doesn’t just develop athletes, he develops World Class people.  John will not only elevate the Track and Field program, but he will also make Bobcat Nation better as a whole.”

 CARYL SMITH GILBERT

Director of Track and Field

University of Georgia

“John Frazier is a perfect choice as Director of Track & Field for the Texas State program. He has a wealth of experience with coaching all levels of the sport, and his energy and compassion for his student-athletes are second to none.”

 JACKIE JOYNER-KERSEE

“Greatest Female Athlete of All-Time”- Sports Illustrated

“John is an amazing, incredible individual with a heart of gold.  His desire to see student-athletes succeed beyond the athletic field is a tremendous credit to his ability to connect passion with purpose. Texas State University is gaining a remarkable person.  A leader who is an awesome motivator and best of all a great human being.”

 ART VENEGAS

Former Men’s Track and Field Head Coach

UCLA

“John Frazier was my first recruit at UCLA in 1982, best decision I ever made. He is a loyal person who has become one of the best throws coaches in the world. He watches over his athletes like a parent and looks beyond the sport for them. A great sense of humor combined with determination makes his coaching style a great experience for his team. John takes great pride in putting our sport in the best light, so he makes sure his competitions and presentations are excellent. My greatest joy is to see him become such a great husband and father, maintaining the tradition his parents put forth. Texas State will be enriched by his presence.”