Sean Denard - Assistant Coach, Throws - Staff Directory

Staff Directory

Sean Denard

Title:
Assistant Coach, Throws
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Sean Denard was named to the position of Assistant Coach – Throws on September 24, 2021 and enters his fourth season with the UCLA coaching staff.

“As coach, mentor, and leader of this program and for these student athletes, I want to emphasize the importance of finding balance in life through studying, living, and training at the number one public university in the world, in the greatest city in the world, and at the most successful athletic department in college sports,” said Denard. “Through balance we will discover new levels of excellence and elite performances.”

During the 2022-23 campaign with the Bruins, UCLA throwers captured a Pac-12 individual and three All-American honors. Federica Botter set a new outdoor school record in the javelin throw, launching for a mark of 57.81m (189-8) to secure the Conference title. Mayyi Mahama, a second team All-American, landed second all-time in UCLA’s history books in the hammer throw, recording a mark of 68.38m (224-4) to claim third at the Pac-12 Championships. Lyvante Su’emai showed steady improvement throughout the season in the discus, placing fifth at the Conference championships before throwing a PR mark (55.69m, 182-8) in the discus event at outdoor nationals.

Freshman thrower Michael Pinckney also shined under Denard’s guidance – in his second meet with UCLA, Pinckney set a new indoor school record in the weight throw (22.05m, 72-04.25). Pinckney also claimed a national title during the summer, winning gold in the hammer throw at the 2023 USATF U20 Outdoor Championships in July. He went on to place fifth at the PanAmerican u20 Championships in the hammer before claiming a silver in the shot put event. Aidan Elbettar also had an impressive summer, throwing 53.21m in the men’s discus final at the 2023 NACAC U23 Championship to claim a bronze medal in Costa Rica.

In his first year at UCLA, Denard’s athletes found outstanding success in the ring and on the runway. At the Pac-12 Championships, Lauren McFall secured five points for the Bruin women in the javelin, finishing fourth overall with a mark of 47.15m (154-8). Kris Emig launched a lifetime-best throw of 67.36m (221-0) in the hammer, securing fourth place overall in the competition and solidifying his No. 5 position on UCLA's all-time list in the event. Jacob Wilson was also impressive in the men's shot put, as the senior uncorked an effort of 19.28m (63-03.25) for second place overall and eight points for the Bruins.

Freshman Lyvante Su'emai and sophomore Natalie Ramirez competed in the discus event at the NCAA West Preliminaries under Denard’s guidance. Su'emai placed 14th overall with a mark of 54.14m (177-07) and Ramirez threw for a distance of 48.41m (150-10) to place 38th overall.

Before coming to Westwood, Denard most recently served as an Assistant Coach for CSUN Track & Field (2019-21) and has a strong history of elite coaching accomplishments. He has coached six student-athletes to NCAA titles and has 51 top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships to his coaching credit.

Denard has also recruited athletes who have garnered 28 All-American accolades, as well as 34 conference and four NCAA individual or team titles. Twenty-two of his athletes have collected Academic All-American awards. Additionally, 16 of Denard’s former athletes or volunteer assistants have gone on to coach at the collegiate level.

Throughout his coaching career, Denard has coached many notable athletes, including Sean Donnelly (Four-time NCAA Division III Champion, Olympic Trials qualifier), Bobbie Goodwin (NCAA Division II Champion), Justin Rodhe (Olympian, Commonwealth Games finalist), and Darien Thornton (NCAA Division II Champion, Olympic Trials qualifier).

Denard also had coaching stops at Grand Valley State University (2014-19) and North Central College (2012-14). He graduated from the University of Mount Union in 2012, where he earned NCAA Division III All-America acclaim as a thrower. Denard earned his second master’s degree at UCLA during the 2022-2023 school year.