DePaul University Athletics
Montia Gardner Named Assistant Track and Field Coach
9/14/2004 12:00:00 AM | TRACK AND FIELD
CHICAGO - DePaul head coach Gordon Thomson recently announced that Montia Gardner has been hired as an assistant coach for the men's and women's track and field programs. Gardner is a former Blue Demon stand-out and will work primarily with DePaul's throwers. She replaces former DePaul All-American Carey Ryan.
An outstanding student-athlete, Gardner holds three throwing records at DePaul. She is the school record holder in the indoor weight throw and shot put and holds the top outdoor mark in the discus. She was the Conference USA Champion in the discus in 2000 and was runner-up in 2002. Gardner was also named Most Outstanding Athlete in 2002.
"Carey Ryan passes the torch to Montia. They are very much alike," said Thomson. "Both are DePaul school record holders, Conference USA champions and are passionate to further the tradition of DePaul throwing excellence. With Montia and volunteer coach Nelson Morales, our student-athletes will be positively challenged."
Prior to DePaul, Gardner was the throws coach at Roosevelt High School in Gary, Ind., and the head track and field coach at Huth Middle School in Matteson, Ill. She graduated from DePaul in 2003 with an Education degree and is pursuing her masters degree at Concordia University in School Leadership.
Gardner was the Indiana state discus champion in 1998 and named to the Lew Wallace High School Hall of Fame that year. She was the AAU National Indoor Champion in the shot put and the outdoor bronze medalist in 1997.