TRACK AND FIELD
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- bmurer@depaul.edu
- Phone:
- (773) 325-4738
Coach Brandon Murer enters his 20th season with the Blue Demons in the 2025-26 season, having joined the program in 2005 as the lead throws coach. During his tenure, DePaul throwers have claimed 62 BIG EAST titles, produced 19 NCAA Championship Qualifiers, and broken school records 27 times - holding 11 of the program’s 12 current throwing records. Under his guidance, five athletes have earned All-American honors, solidifying DePaul’s throws group as one of the most decorated units in the BIG EAST.
The 2024-25 season was another strong showing by the throws squad, highlighted by Kash Allen’s continued rise. Allen broke the school record in the shot put multiple times, ultimately setting the mark at 16.10m and capturing the BIG EAST outdoor title. Jessica Beckman also had a defining season throwing a school record mark of 52.97m in the discus throw. Freshman Jaiden Gary also had a standout season by winning both the indoor and outdoor BIG EAST titles in the shot put. Alex Bernstein remained a consistent force in the hammer throw, securing another BIG EAST crown and advancing to the NCAA Outdoor Championships, securing his place in the top-20 throwers in the nation.
In the summer of 2024, Noelle Malkamaki dominated the women’s F46 shot put at the 2024 Paris Summer Paralympics, earning gold with a world record throw of 14.06m. Her historic win made her the first DePaul athlete to medal at the Olympic or Paralympic Games since 1988, solidifying her place among the university’s most celebrated athletes.
The 2023-24 season was a standout year for the Blue Demon throwers, with Alex Bernstein breaking the school weight throw record (21.65m) and winning the BIG EAST indoor title, while Billie Martin claimed both the weight and hammer throw championships and earned four BIG EAST Athlete of the Week honors. Kash Allen added a BIG EAST outdoor shot put title and advanced to the NCAA Regionals In total, three throwers qualified for the NCAA West Prelims. The 2022-23 season also saw major success, with Jaosn Montano sweeping the shot put titles, Martin winning the indoor weight throw, and Bernstein taking the crown in hammer throw - totaling four conference titles under Coach Murer.
The 2023-24 season was a standout year for DePaul’s throws group, led by Alex Bernstein and Billie Martin. Bernstein shattered the school record in the weight throw with a toss of 21.65m and won the BIG EAST title at the Indoor Championships. Martin dominated throughout the indoor and outdoor campaigns, collecting four BIG EAST Athlete of the Week honors and secured conference titles in both the weight throw and hammer throw. Kash Allen also broke through with consistent performances in the shot put, winning the BIG EAST Outdoor title and advancing the NCAA Regionals. Altogether, the throws squad contributed major points at both conference meets and sent three athletes to the NCAA West Preliminary Rounds.
In the 2022-23 season, Murer developed three athletes who won four BIG EAST titles. Under his tutelage, Jason Montano won the BIG EAST Indoor and Outdoor Shot Put title. Additionally, Billie Martin won the women's Indoor Weight Throw title and Alex Bernstein took home the outdoor weight throw crown.
From 2018 to 2023, the throwers continued to thrive with multiple standout performances. Noelle Malkamaki made history at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships, winning gold and breaking her own world record in the F46 shot put with a mark of 13.31m. In 2020, DePaul swept the BIG EAST Indoor shot put titles and saw Jade Gates win the women’s weight throw. Gates also captured BIG EAST titles in 2018 and 2019 and qualified for the NCAA Preliminaries in both the hammer and javelin. Kyle Hedge dominated the shot put with three straight BIG EAST titles, while Emily Eller and Rebecca Chouinard added conference crowns,showcasing the depth and consistency of DePaul’s throws squad.
Under Murer, DePaul thrower Noelle Malkamaki made her World Para Athletics Championship debut in 2023 fresh after winning the US F46 Shot Put National Title. At the World Para Athletics Championships, Malkamaki shattered her own world record and brought home the gold with a final mark of 13.32m. Malkamaki bested the next nearest competitor by 1.73m.
At the 2020 BIG EAST Indoor Championships, Jade Gates was crowned the Weight Throw champion while the Blue Demons swept the shot put event on the men's and women's side with Jason Montano and Mackenna Orie earning the gold.
During the 2019 season, DePaul throwers earned three BIG EAST Championships. Under Murer’s tutelage, Kyle Hedge earned his third straight BIG EAST shot put title in both the indoor and outdoor campaigns. On the women’s side Rebecca Chouinard earned a conference title in the women’s indoor weight throw. Jade Gates took home the BIG EAST title and secured her place in the NCAA Preliminaries, qualifying in the hammer throw.
In 2018, the Blue Demons earned four BIG EAST titles as Hedge placed first in both editions of the shot put while Emily Eller and Gates both won titles in the 2018 BIG EAST outdoor championships. Gates went on to make an appearance in the NCAA Preliminaries, competing in the javelin throw.
From 2014 to 2017, the throws group dominated the BIG EAST, collecting 23 conference titles. Matt Babicz and Trevor Kinthytt led the charge, each earning multiple titles and NCAA Championship appearances, with Babicz finishing seventh in the shot put in 2014 to earn First Team All-American honors. Kinthytt capped his career with nine conference titles, including a sweep of the weight throw, discus, and hammer in 2017, and advanced to the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the discus. Sarah Moss added four career titles, including back-to-back discus wins, while Blake Thompson, Corrine Franz, Bailey Dell, and others contributed to a deep and consistently successful throws squad.
The Blue Demons throws crew posted a total of seven BIG EAST titles during the 2017 campaign. Eller, Hedge, Trevor Kinthytt and Corinne Franz all secured first-place BIG EAST finishes. Kinthytt earned titles in the weight throw, discus and hammer throw, wrapping up a decorated career that included nine conference championships. Kinthytt qualified for the NCAA Preliminaries in both the discus and the hammer throw in 2017 before advancing to the NCAA Championships in the discus.
In 2016, five Blue Demons throwers earned conference titles under Murer’s direction. Sarah Moss earned her final BIG EAST title, putting the finishing touches on a career that included four conference throwing titles. Meanwhile, Kingthytt earned a trio of conference championships and Blake Thompson picked up a BIG EAST title in the discus at the outdoor championships.
Six Blue Demon throwers won BIG EAST conference titles in 2015 and three represented DePaul at the NCAA Preliminaries. Matt Babicz took home BIG EAST titles in the shot put in both the indoor and outdoor campaigns and Kinthytt matched his feat, winning the weight throw and the discus. On the women’s side, Moss won the outdoor discus conference title while Bailey Dell took home the javelin title. Babicz, earning First Team All-American honors, made his final appearance at the NCAA Indoor Championships, his third career appearance in the shot put finals.
In 2014, Murer coached the Blue Demons to five BIG EAST throws titles. On the women’s side Moss won titles in both the indoor and outdoor campaigns. Meanwhile, Kinthytt and Babicz also took home conference titles during both seasons. Babicz went on to compete in the NCAA Championships in both the indoor and outdoor campaigns. Babicz finished seventh at the NCAA Championships, earning First Team All-American honors.
From 2008 to 2012, DePaul’s throwers achieved significant success under Coach Murer’s leadership. Melissa Frazer became the first female Blue Demon to win a BIG EAST javelin title and was an NCAA Outdoor Championship qualifier in 2008, later earning Second Team All-American honors in 2012. Brad Millar claimed four conference titles and placed seventh in the hammer throw at the 2010 NCAA Outdoor Championships, earning First Team All-American honors. Tim Nedow emerged as a standout, earning multiple BIG EAST titles, Second Team All-American recognition, and Academic All-American honors before graduating in 2012. Alanna Kovacs also reached the NCAA Outdoor Championships, finishing 13th in the javelin in 2012. The consistent presence of DePaul throwers on national stages during this era marked a turning point for the program’s success.
Two DePaul throwers won BIG EAST titles in 2012 as Tim Nedow wrapped up his career with titles in both the indoor and outdoor campaigns. Nedow went on to finish 13th at the NCAA Indoor Championships in the shot put and earned Second Team All-American honors. He also earned Academic All-American honors during his final season. Melissa Frazer won her fourth javelin conference championship during the 2012 outdoor season. Matt Babicz and Frazer qualified for the NCAA Preliminaries along with Alanna Kovacs who participated in the javelin and discus. All three athletes went on to compete in the NCAA Championships. Kovacs finished 13th in the javelin while Frazer finished 10th, both earning Second Team All-American honors.
Three athletes earned BIG EAST conference titles during the 2011 season. Nedow earned a pair of titles while Frazer won the conference title in the javelin. Nedow participated in the shot put and discus at the NCAA Championships, earning a 13th place finish and Second team All-American honors in the discus.
Nedow and Kovacs appeared in their first NCAA Championship meets in 2010. Kovacs earned a BIG EAST title while Brad Millar also picked up a pair of conference titles to give him four championships during his career. Millar appeared in the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the hammer throw where he finished seventh, earning First Team All-American honors. Millar won three hammer throw titles and one weight throw title in his career.
Melissa Frazer made her first NCAA Championship appearance in 2008, participating in the javelin throw. Frazer earned a BIG EAST title in the Javelin in 2008, being the first Blue Demon from the women's squad to accomplish such a feat. Following the conference title, Frazer qualified for the NCAA outdoor finals becoming the first student-athlete to qualify in Murer's tenure. Millar made his first NCAA Championship appearance in 2009, under Murer.
In Murer's second year with the Blue Demons, he saw Brad Millar earn a BIG EAST title in the Hammer Throw, becoming the first champion in that event in program history.
Brandon Murer By The Numbers (2005-2025)
| Current DePaul Program Records | 11 |
| BIG EAST Championship Most Outstanding Field Performer | 10 |
| BIG EAST Champions | 62 |
| NCAA Championship Finals Appearances | 19 |
| All-Americans | 6 |
