Sept. 19, 2007

EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State track and field program has added two new assistant coaches to its staff. John Newell will specialize in throws for the Spartans, while Melanie Rhoden focuses on sprints for the team.

"What excited me about Melanie and John joining our staff is that they are committed to being coaches," said Director of Track and Field Walt Drenth. "They bring great passion for success and teaching.  Most importantly for our student athletes, they are both students of their event areas and students of the sport of track and field."

Newell arrives in East Lansing from Ashland University in Ohio, where he spent last year serving as a volunteer assistant coach for the Eagles. While at Ashland, he coached the hammer, shot and discus for his collegiate throwers, as well as coaching at winter and summer all-star clinics. From 2002 to 2004, Newell worked with throwers at the University of Georgia's seasonal track and field camps.

Newell is a record holder in hammer, shot and weight events at Sacramento City College, where he earned an Associates Degree in 2002. He then moved on to Georgia, where he served as a Bulldogs' team captain and became an All-American in the hammer, shot put and discus. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology from the university in 2005. Newell is also an ISSA certified personal trainer and spent the summer of 2006 training in throwing events with Hungary's national hammer coaches.

"John brings the benefit of having been coached and mentored by two of the country's best throwing coaches," stated Drenth.  "He became an elite athlete with an incredible work ethic and constant pursuit of technical knowledge.  His athletic experience gives him a true understanding of the developmental process throwers must go through in order to be great. The throwers he has had an opportunity to work with have improved and grown tremendously."

Rhoden has spent the past three seasons at the College of New Jersey. She served as an assistant coach last year, directing team practices and weight training for 25 student athletes. She also worked in home meet management and assisted in scheduling, recruiting, fundraising and making travel arrangements. She served the team as a graduate assistant from 2004 to 2006 while earning her Master of Arts degree in counseling. Rhoden was a scholarship runner on the track and field team at Villanova University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in human services in May 2004.

"Melanie will work with Randy Gillon (sprints coach) and Chris Bostwick (jumps coach)," explained Drenth.  "She brings experience as hurdler/sprinter and a coach.  Most importantly she brings a genuine enthusiasm to her coaching and the sport of track and field.  During the job search, Melanie's name came up with a number of coaches I respect. She brings with her a reputation as a highly talented and motivated young coach, and we are very fortunate to have her join our staff."