ROME, Ga. – Anthony Yates was announced by Director of Athletics Marty Ziesemer on Monday as the new head coach of the Shorter University Track and Field program.
Ziesemer remarked, "I am pleased to have Anthony join our track and field program as the head coach and begin the process of building a competitive program while investing in the lives of our student-athletes. He has a sincere desire to serve the Lord and Shorter in the role and is passionate about coaching and training our student-athletes in their development as college students. I look forward to seeing the positive impact he will make in our program, with our student-athletes, and the entire Shorter University community."
Yates brings an extensive record of success to Rome. Throughout his coaching career, he has helped develop five national champions, six national runners-up, 45 All-Americans, 166 national qualifiers, 72 conference champions and 332 all-conference performers. He has also coached two Olympic Trials qualifiers and has been part of five team conference championships. Yates has earned three Head Coach of the Year awards and two Assistant Coach of the Year awards during his career.
Yates comes to Shorter after spending the last four seasons at MidAmerica Nazarene University, where he coached 18 national qualifiers, four All-Americans, 10 conference champions and 32 all-conference honorees. Under his guidance, multiple athletes also broke school records.
Prior to his time at MidAmerica Nazarene, Yates spent three seasons coaching at the NCAA Division II level at Upper Iowa University, where he led the sprints, hurdles, relays and multi-events groups. During his tenure, he coached 18 women to All-NSIC honors and helped athletes establish 41 school records. He also coached two NCAA Division II National Qualifiers in the 400-meter hurdles and heptathlon.
Before joining Upper Iowa, Yates spent one season coaching at his alma mater, Greenville University, where he specialized in the multi-events and hurdles. During that season, he coached one national runner-up, six NCAA National Qualifiers, three NCAA All-Americans, one SLIAC Conference Champion and six All-SLIAC honorees.
As a student-athlete at Greenville University, Yates competed in the 400-meter hurdles, multi-events and pole vault. He was a six-time National Qualifier and three-time All-American, earning All-America honors in the 400-meter hurdles, 4x400-meter relay and pole vault.
Yates earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in biology from Greenville University and his Master of Sports Administration degree from Upper Iowa University.
"I am extremely excited to be the new Head Track and Field coach here at Shorter University," said Yates. "Shorter has had a long, great history of track and field throughout the years, and I am excited to bring that excellence back to campus. I want to thank Mr. Marty Ziesemer and the rest of the hiring committee for their time and for the opportunity to lead the track and field program. I'm fired up to get started and meet the team once they arrive late August! I am grateful to Jesus for the opportunity and for this next chapter in life. Fly Hawks!"
