With UCLA’s once-proud sprinting program at a crossroads,
Art Venegas is delving deep into Bruin lore to try to recapture the
squad’s past success.
Venegas, men’s track and field head coach, hired Tony
Veney as UCLA’s new men’s sprints and hurdles coach
Thursday, bringing the former Bruin great back into the fold after
nearly 30 years away from Westwood.
“Tony is someone that people look up to, nationally and
internationally,” Venegas said. “He is a tireless
recruiter, and he’s on the cutting edge in training for the
sprints and hurdles. We were looking for the right fit, and I think
we found it.”
UCLA began its search for a new sprints coach in April when
then-coach Derek Loudenback indicated his long term career goals
did not involve coaching.
A number of qualified candidates contacted Venegas about the
job, but it was Veney ““ then the director of men’s and
women’s track and field at Portland State ““ who emerged
as the top choice.
When Veney’s wife Cloe received a job offer to teach in
Southern California at Azusa Pacific, everything fell into place,
and he accepted the job.
“I am extremely excited to return to my old stomping
grounds,” said Veney, who began his coaching career in 1977
just a year after graduating from UCLA.
“Not many people get to go home again, but I’ve been
given that opportunity. I’m ready to help get the program
where it wants to be again,” he said.
Veney certainly seems to have the credentials to do just
that.
Team USA’s head women’s coach at the Goodwill Games
in 2001, Veney has been involved with USA Track and Field since
1987. He has been a coach at the collegiate level his entire
career, and helped direct Oregon’s resurgence as a track and
field power as an assistant coach from 1998 to 2001.
While the collection of sprinters and hurdlers that Veney
inherits falls well short of the Bruin heyday, the cupboard is far
from bare. NCAA qualifiers Craig Everhart and Jonathan Williams
return as does a healthy Matt Bruno and heralded incoming
recruits Phillip Nossmy and Brandon Johnson.
“National respectability is what I always experienced at
UCLA,” Veney said.
Perhaps with his help, the Bruins can reach that level once
again.