John Woosley Season 2023

John Woosley begins his third season as an assistant at LSU under head coach Dennis Shaver where he oversees both the men’s and women’s throwing events.

Woosley began his coaching career in 1997 upon his graduation from LSU when he began working with several of the nation’s top javelin throwers, a list that includes former American record holder Tom Pukstys and former LSU standout Delyle Woods. He coached each of these athletes to top finishes at the 1999 and 2001 USATF Championships and the 2000 Olympic Trials.

At the collegiate level, Woosley has served as a volunteer throws coach at both LSU and UL-Lafayette. In addition, he has been the assistant director of the Louisiana Throws Camp since 1997, offering technical and training instruction to high school throwers and track coaches around the state.

In just his first full season at LSU in 2005, Woosley guided the efforts of All-SEC javelin performer Amanda Harmata, while helping five others to appearances at the NCAA Regional Championships. Last year, he coached Rabun Fox and Ricky Jean-Francois to their first career All-SEC honors and saw four of his athletes compete at the NCAA Mideast Regional Championships.

An accomplished athlete in his own right, Woosley was a three-year letterwinner for the Tigers where he specialized in the hammer and the weight throw, events in which he still ranks third and sixth, respectively, on LSU’s all-time lists. Also a two-time Academic All-SEC selection, Woosley was a four-time recipient of LSU’s Athletic Director’s Cup.

A native of Baton Rouge, Woosley completed his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology in 1997 and has earned a pair of master’s degrees from LSU in motor behavior and information systems and decision sciences (ISDS).

THE WOOSLEY FILE

Coaching Experience
LSU 
Assistant Track and Field Coach  2004-Present
UL-Lafayette 
Volunteer Track and Field Coach  1998-2002
LSU 
Volunteer Track and Field Coach  1998-2001

Athletic Experience
Three-year letterwinner at LSU.
Specialized in the hammer and weight throw, events in which he is still ranked third and sixth respectively on LSU’s all-time lists.

Records and Achievements at LSU
8 NCAA Regional qualifiers in seven different events
3 All-SEC performers