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Track and Field
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University of Oklahoma Athletics
Track Adds Former Olympian to Staff
July 25, 2007 | Track and Field
NORMAN, Okla. - Brian Blutreich, 40, a former Olympic discus thrower who has also coached three Olympians, was hired as a University of Oklahoma track and field assistant, head coach Martin Smith announced Wednesday.
"The success that Brian Blutreich has had in recent years coaching throwers is unparalleled," Smith said. "For us to attract someone like Brian truly exemplifies the progress of the program and the commitment the OU athletics department has shown in helping make it one of the nation's premier teams.
"He is a remarkable communicator, which has given him an extraordinary ability to coach all four of the very technical throws events with a simplicity that athletes can grasp quickly.
"Brian's assistance will be fundamental in creating balanced men's and women's teams that dominate in the Big 12 and contend for national titles in the future."
Blutreich (pronounced BLUE-trick) comes to OU after 11 years at the University of North Carolina where, most recently, he served as assistant men's head coach. Under his authority, UNC became one of the nation's premier collegiate throws programs.
"I'm very excited about joining the University of Oklahoma family," Blutreich said. "My wife and I are thankful for a great opportunity to join Coach Smith's staff. It is definitely a program quickly headed in a positive direction and I can't wait to contribute to its success.
"I believe I'm up to a new challenge. Coming from an established throws program at North Carolina to basically starting over again is a very exciting prospect for me."
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In 2007, Blutreich helped Justin Ryncavage defend his ACC and NCAA outdoor titles in the men's javelin as part of dual 1-2 sweeps with teammate Adam Montague, the NCAA East Region Champion and Field Athlete of the Year. He also guided Nick Owens to two All-America honors and ACC titles in the weight throw and hammer throw.
His labors made him a shoo-in for his second National Assistant Coach of the Year honor as voted by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
Blutreich's successes envelop a coaching career that has spawned seven individual NCAA champions, 29 All-Americans, 45 Atlantic Coast Conference event champions and 112 All-ACC performers. Blutreich-coached athletes set all 12 possible UNC throws events records and helped the Tar Heels to 14 men's and women's ACC team championships.
The 2006 season saw Blutreich-coached athletes win three NCAA outdoor titles, the first time North Carolina produced three national champions at the same meet, as Laura Gerraughty (women's shot put), Vikas Gowda (men's discus) and Ryncavage reached the top step of the winner's podium. Owens, who later won gold at the NACAC Under-23 Championships, earned third place in the hammer throw to give the Tar Heels four All-America throwers.
In addition to his work at North Carolina, Blutreich was the men's throws coach for Team USA at the 2002 World Junior Championships in Kingston, Jamaica.
Under his direction, Blutreich's wife Lynda Lipson-Blutreich became a three-time U.S. champion in the javelin. Lipson-Blutreich competed in the 2000 Olympics, has been on two World Championship and two Pan American teams, and is a former American record holder.
A native of Mission Viejo, Calif., Blutreich attended UCLA from 1986-90, earning All-America honors three times each in the shot put and discus. Blutreich also won back-to-back Pac-10 discus titles in 1989 and 1990. In Blutreich's four years, the Bruins won two NCAA national outdoor championships and three consecutive Pac-10 titles. He graduated from UCLA in 1990 with a bachelor's degree in psychology. In 1991, Blutreich was a discus finalist at the World University Games in Sheffield, England.
Brian and Lynda have two daughters, Brooke Alexandra and Logan Kate.
Lynda recently resigned her position as an assistant track and field coach at Duke University where, like her husband, she coached throws events. With daughter Brooke beginning kindergarten in the fall, the Blutreich's believed Oklahoma provided the best situation for raising a family while allowing Lynda to maintain a level of interest in track and field.
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