Anderson, Macdonald Take Charge Of Husky Sprinters
July 27, 2018 | Track & Field
SEATTLE – Washington Director of Track & Field Maurica Powell and Head Coach Andy Powell today announced the new leadership for the Husky sprinters and hurdlers, as former U.S. 400-meter hurdles champion Jeshua Anderson has been named Assistant Coach and Anderson's longtime coach, Mark Macdonald, will stay on as a Volunteer Assistant.
This will be the first full-time coaching position for Anderson, who had one of the most dominant college careers in Pac-12 history at Washington State from 2008-11 while being coached by Macdonald. Anderson and Macdonald have both worked as volunteer assistants at Washington the past three years, familiarizing themselves with the team and the terrain as Anderson has continued to compete in the professional ranks.
"We are extremely excited to bring a combination of elite athleticism and coaching experience to our sprints and hurdles group with the addition of Jeshua Anderson to our full-time staff, and Mark Macdonald as a volunteer coach," said the Powells. "Jeshua's reputation as a fierce competitor with extraordinary work ethic provides him a unique platform from which to impact our student athletes. He is passionate about developing and mentoring collegiate men and women to achieve at the highest level.
"Jeshua will work alongside his own college coach, Mark Macdonald, who brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise over 20 years of coaching sprints, hurdles, and relays in the Pac-12. We are eager to get this pair working together again!"
Anderson was a finalist for the Bowerman Award, the highest honor in college track, in 2011. That year he won his fourth consecutive Pac-12 title in the 400-meter hurdles, and won his third individual NCAA title in the event. He then went on to win the 2011 U.S. Outdoor Championships and competed for Team USA at the 2011 World Championships. One of the top Americans in the event for years now, Anderson made the finals of the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials.
"I am excited to make the transition from competitive athlete to coach at the University of Washington," said Anderson. "I have been fortunate to have great coaches during my athletic career, whom I have learned from and have helped in my success. I am thankful for Maurica and Andy Powell giving me an opportunity to be a part of such an all-star staff."
Macdonald's lengthy résumé includes over twenty years of success featuring a long stint in Pullman at his alma mater. At Washington State, Macdonald's athletes totaled thirteen Pac-12 Championships and four individual NCAA wins, with three won by Anderson. He was named the 2009 USTFCCCA West Region Men's Assistant Track Coach of the Year.
Working with the Husky hurdlers in 2018, Macdonald had the second-ranked women's 400m hurdles group in the nation, as Hanna Tarleton, Morganne Hill, and Carly Lester all made NCAA West Prelims, with Tarleton and Hill reaching the quarterfinals. Tarleton was the breakout story of the season for the Dawgs, as she placed fourth at the Pac-12 Championships after not having competed in three years. Darhian Mills also made the West Prelim quarterfinals in 2017 and was fourth at Pac-12s in the 400m hurdles.
Macdonald has seen Anderson's work ethic and knowledge of the sport firsthand over the past ten years and considers him a natural fit for the coaching profession.
"Jeshua is obviously most well-known for his amazing track career. But what I've been able to see over the past decade is how smart he is. He has an amazing ability to take in information from some of the best track minds in the world and filter it down to a logical, simple plan. His passion for the sport and his success, combined with his caring nature for people will make him a great coach," says Macdonald. "The Powells have done a great job in identifying a great person to lead the UW sprint program for many years to come."
Anderson is equally enthusiastic about continuing his partnership with Macdonald in the new era for Washington Track & Field.
"I look forward to helping my athletes at the University of Washington, alongside my mentor and coach Mark Macdonald, in pursuit of athletic and academic excellence within the UW Track program. Mark Macdonald and I have had great success as a team with multiple Pac-12 and NCAA championships and we plan to achieve success at a high level as we build our student-athletes on and off the track."
This will be the first full-time coaching position for Anderson, who had one of the most dominant college careers in Pac-12 history at Washington State from 2008-11 while being coached by Macdonald. Anderson and Macdonald have both worked as volunteer assistants at Washington the past three years, familiarizing themselves with the team and the terrain as Anderson has continued to compete in the professional ranks.
"We are extremely excited to bring a combination of elite athleticism and coaching experience to our sprints and hurdles group with the addition of Jeshua Anderson to our full-time staff, and Mark Macdonald as a volunteer coach," said the Powells. "Jeshua's reputation as a fierce competitor with extraordinary work ethic provides him a unique platform from which to impact our student athletes. He is passionate about developing and mentoring collegiate men and women to achieve at the highest level.
"Jeshua will work alongside his own college coach, Mark Macdonald, who brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise over 20 years of coaching sprints, hurdles, and relays in the Pac-12. We are eager to get this pair working together again!"
Anderson was a finalist for the Bowerman Award, the highest honor in college track, in 2011. That year he won his fourth consecutive Pac-12 title in the 400-meter hurdles, and won his third individual NCAA title in the event. He then went on to win the 2011 U.S. Outdoor Championships and competed for Team USA at the 2011 World Championships. One of the top Americans in the event for years now, Anderson made the finals of the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials.
"I am excited to make the transition from competitive athlete to coach at the University of Washington," said Anderson. "I have been fortunate to have great coaches during my athletic career, whom I have learned from and have helped in my success. I am thankful for Maurica and Andy Powell giving me an opportunity to be a part of such an all-star staff."
Macdonald's lengthy résumé includes over twenty years of success featuring a long stint in Pullman at his alma mater. At Washington State, Macdonald's athletes totaled thirteen Pac-12 Championships and four individual NCAA wins, with three won by Anderson. He was named the 2009 USTFCCCA West Region Men's Assistant Track Coach of the Year.
Working with the Husky hurdlers in 2018, Macdonald had the second-ranked women's 400m hurdles group in the nation, as Hanna Tarleton, Morganne Hill, and Carly Lester all made NCAA West Prelims, with Tarleton and Hill reaching the quarterfinals. Tarleton was the breakout story of the season for the Dawgs, as she placed fourth at the Pac-12 Championships after not having competed in three years. Darhian Mills also made the West Prelim quarterfinals in 2017 and was fourth at Pac-12s in the 400m hurdles.
Macdonald has seen Anderson's work ethic and knowledge of the sport firsthand over the past ten years and considers him a natural fit for the coaching profession.
"Jeshua is obviously most well-known for his amazing track career. But what I've been able to see over the past decade is how smart he is. He has an amazing ability to take in information from some of the best track minds in the world and filter it down to a logical, simple plan. His passion for the sport and his success, combined with his caring nature for people will make him a great coach," says Macdonald. "The Powells have done a great job in identifying a great person to lead the UW sprint program for many years to come."
Anderson is equally enthusiastic about continuing his partnership with Macdonald in the new era for Washington Track & Field.
"I look forward to helping my athletes at the University of Washington, alongside my mentor and coach Mark Macdonald, in pursuit of athletic and academic excellence within the UW Track program. Mark Macdonald and I have had great success as a team with multiple Pac-12 and NCAA championships and we plan to achieve success at a high level as we build our student-athletes on and off the track."
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