BOONE, N.C. -- Appalachian State track & field head coach
Damion McLean has announced that Whitney Smyre has been named as throws coach for the program.
Smyre was a standout field athlete during her time in at App State from 2006-11. She threw in every event but the javelin while in the High Country and was an eight-time All-Southern Conference honoree and four time Southern Conference champion (weight throw in 2009 and 2011, hammer in 2009, shot put in 2009). In addition, Smyre was a 12-time All-Region performer and qualified for the NCAA East Regional in the hammer throw in 2009.
"Whitney is going to be a great addition to the coaching staff here at App State," said McLean. "As a former alum, developer and technical coach, she will progress our student-athletes into great men and women in the real world once they graduate. She comes with learning and coaching experience and has built great relationships with her athletes."
Smyre spent the last two seasons as the throws coach at Lenoir-Rhyne. While there, she helped the Bears women's track & field program capture the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) outdoor team title in 2019. She also coached three athletes to Division II NCAA provisional marks.
Prior to Lenoir-Rhyne, she worked at Wingate from 2011-17 in the throws department, seeing the women's program capture the SAC outdoor title in 2017 and the men's program win the conference championship in 2014. Smyre also saw two athletes post Division II NCAA provisional marks.
In eight total seasons as a coach in the SAC, Smyre coached 14 conference champions, 25 All-Southeast Region honorees, 46 All-SAC finishers and 132 SAC top-nine finishers.
Smyre will coach all five throwing events for the Mountaineers.
