Carnegie Mellon's Gary Aldrich named throws coach for U.S. team at Paris Olympics

Carnegie Mellon track and field coach Gary Aldrich will make his eighth international coaching assignment this summer at the Paris Olympics as the U.S.A. men’s throws coach, CMU announced Thursday.

Aldrich held the same position at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

“It was hard to find the words when I was selected for the Tokyo Olympics, but now to be selected for back-to-back Olympic Games is not a common occurrence,” Aldrich said in a statment released by CMU.

“This great opportunity causes me to reflect on this incredible journey. The only reason I ever started in track and field in my senior year of high school was because baseball players couldn’t lift. They would become muscle bound, at least that was the thought process in the ’70s.

“Every four years from 1968 I would watch and imagine what it must be like to be at the world’s greatest sporting event. That dream became a reality and now for a second time. I am honored to be chosen to represent Team USATF as the men’s throws coach for the world’s best track and field team at the Paris Olympics.”

In 2019, Aldrich served on the U.S.A. coaching staff as the throws coach for the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association Under 23 Championships. He was the assistant throws coach for the 2017 IAAF World Outdoor Championships in London, England.

Aldrich coached the throwers at the Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada, in 2016 before being named the men’s throws coach for the World Indoor Championships in Portland, Oregon. In 2012, he was the throws coach for the United States at the World Junior Track and Field Championships in Barcelona, Spain, and was also the assistant throws coach for the NACAC U23 Team in the summer of 2010.

“I couldn’t be more excited for Gary and his opportunity to return to the Olympics as a coach for the United States,” Carnegie Mellon athletic director Josh Centor said. “Gary is a tremendous coach and takes so much pride in the opportunity to share his knowledge and love of competition with others.

“He has always been able to help athletes get the most out of themselves in their various events and disciplines, and that will be no different on the international stage. The United States is fortunate to have a coach of his caliber on the track and field staff.”

Aldrich, who has been head coach of CMU’s men’s and women’s track and field program for the past 10 years, has been honored by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association on nine occasions, including five times as the Regional Indoor Men’s Head Coach of the Year and four as Mideast Regional Outdoor Men’s Head Coach of the Year. He was associate head coach at CMU for eight seasons.

He has helped CMU athletes reach All-America status 29 times.