Louisiana Tech Director of Track and Field Brian Johnson announced the addition of Mikhail Roedel as an assistant coach specializing in throws.
“I am extremely excited to add Mikhail Roedel to Louisiana Tech coaching staff,” Johnson said. “Mikhail has developed national champions on the JUCO level and did a phenomenal job working with the men’s and women’s programs at Iowa Western. I have no doubt that he can come in and do the same here at Louisiana Tech. I can’t wait to see him develop our throws program.”
An eight-year coaching veteran, Coach Roedel has a proven championship resume as he coached Iowa Western to back-to-back Indoor NJCAA Women’s National Championships, the 2022 Outdoor NJCAA Women’s National Championship, won both the 2021 Indoor and Outdoor Women’s Conference Championships, and the 2022 Men’s and Women’s Indoor Conference Championship.
During that span, Roedel produced 29 national-qualifying IWCC throwers between indoor and outdoor seasons, 16 USTFCCCA NJCAA All-Americans, and set six program records while at Iowa Western, including Shakiel Dacres, who became the first Iowa Western national champion throw in the 2022 NJCAA Outdoor Discus, and Antonia Sealy who won a conference championship in women’s shot put.
Also in 2022, he developed a pair of national runner-up performers in Nemoy Cockett (men’s weight throw) and Elizabeth Sebera (women’s weight throw).
In 2021, Roedel coached Tucker Day to a conference championship in men’s outdoor javelin, and Shania Parkinson in indoor women’s shot put. Parkinson also placed sixth at nationals in 2021.
Roedel has shown the ability to develop and produce consistent results working with the likes of Johnie Jean-Jacques over a three-year period in which he placed top-10 at nationals three years in a row.
Prior to his arrival at Iowa Western, Coach Roedel held the same position at his alma mater, Johnson County Community College, for two seasons, where he coached his program to six top-15 finishes at the NJCAA Championships.
“Getting the Phone call from Coach Johnson was unreal honestly”, said Roebel. “I want to thank him for believing in me and picking me for this position. Coach Johnson is a proven winner and I can see myself continuing to grow under his leadership. He’s put together a great staff and I think we can make some special things happen. This is an opportunity I’ve been patiently waiting on and a challenge that I’m ready to take head-on.
“I believe LA Tech’s culture and family atmosphere is somewhere I can see myself developing and becoming the best version of myself. I’m just so excited to get to work with these student athletes and to meet the wonderful people of Ruston, La. I’m beyond grateful for the opportunity and mentorship the Doug Marshall and Iowa Western family provided for me these last 4 years. I’m excited to begin this next chapter at a LA Tech Bulldog.”
Roedel got his start in coaching at MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, Kansas, where he spent two seasons as a volunteer out of college. While in Olathe, Roedel helped produce the program’s first throws national qualifier in women’s javelin.
Roedel competed as a student-athlete for Johnson County before transferring to Emporia State, where he finished his collegiate career.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in Health Promotion in 2015.
