Virginia Commonwealth University Men's Track

The Jon Riley File Coaching Experience:        2001-03                      Assistant Coach St. Augustine High - New Orleans, La.   2003-05                     Assistant Coach Southeast Missouri State    2005-08                     Assistant Coach Belmont 2008- present                   Head Coach VCU Coaching Highlights:                        40 individual conference champions 60 individual school records broken 10 team conference championships 4 NCAA All-Americans Education:                   1998             Southeast Missouri State B.S. Mass Communication 2005             Southeast Missouri State M.A. Athletic Administration Jon Riley enters his 18th season as head coach of the VCU Women's Track & Field and 16th in charge of the men's team in 2025-26. Riley took over the reigns of the women's program in 2008 and the men's team in 2010, and has overseen a remarkable makeover of both by employing three key ingredients: dedication, commitment and passion. While these three words are often associated with Coach Riley, they are also descriptors of his teams and coaching philosophy. Riley's influence has produced 11 women's track & field Atlantic 10 Conference team championships (Indoors 2015, Outdoors 2016, Indoors 2017, Indoors 2018, Outdoors 2018, Indoors 2019, Outdoors 2021, Indoors 2022, Indoors 2023, Indoors 2024, Outdoors 2024), as well as three All-Americans (Kiara Porter [5-time], Jaleesa Williams [2-time], and Gudrun Hallgrímsdóttir [5-time]) and numerous individual conference champions. He has also kept the men's program in consistent competition for conference championships. In 2016, he guided the men's team to a third-place showing at the 2016 A-10 Outdoor Championships, the program's best since it joined the league prior to the 2012-13 season. He has collected Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year honors eight times.  Riley's student-athletes have set school records in 37 women's and 13 men's events (indoor and outdoor) during his tenures.  In 2015, Riley's resurrection of the women's team took an important step when it captured the A-10 Indoor title, the program's first conference crown more than 20 years. The following year, Riley directed the women's squad to an A-10 outdoor title, the school's first outdoor championship since it won the 1994 Metro Conference crown.  Riley's guidance was critical in the recruitment and development of All-Americans Kiara Porter and Jaleesa Williams. Porter quickly became one of the all-time greats at VCU. In four seasons she racked up five All-America honors in the 400-meter run (three outdoors, two indoors), 16 individual and relay conference titles and three A-10 Most Outstanding Performer honors. In 2014 and 2015, she placed eighth at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the 400. Porter set 11 school records as a Ram and was also a three-time Academic All-American. Williams, meanwhile, became the first thrower in VCU history to earn All-America status when she placed ninth in the discus at the 2013 NCAA Outdoor Championships. She placed 12th the following year in that event. She captured six individual conference titles and set five school records during her tenure.  In 2012, Riley coached Porter to a gold medal as a part of Team USA’s 4x400 at the IAAF World Junior Championships in Barcelona, Spain. Earlier in the year Porter finished fourth at the USA Junior Championships in the 400. In 2010, just two years into his tenure, Riley led the Black & Gold to its best CAA Championship performance in six years.  “My staff and I are dedicated to this program and we love what we do,” Riley said. “We are committed to doing whatever it takes to put our athletes in the best position to be successful, both on and off the track. We will do whatever it takes to give our athletes the best experience possible here at VCU.” Richmond isn’t the only stop in Riley’s coaching career that’s been successful. From 2005-08, Riley was an assistant at Belmont in Nashville, Tenn. He worked primarily with sprinters and jumpers. There he helped four different Bruins become NCAA Regional qualifiers, and he coached a total of nine Atlantic Sun Conference champions. In particular, Lynette Rives showcased a high level of excellence under Riley’s tutelage. She was an All-American in 2008 and also All-Region and a NCAA National qualifier in the 200. Prior to his stint at Belmont, Riley held the same position at his alma mater, Southeast Missouri State. While working with the jumpers, pole vaulters, javelin throwers and hurdlers, Coach Jon Riley helped the women’s program capture three Ohio Valley Conference championships and numerous All-Conference awards. Riley’s coaching career began right out of college as he spent five years as an assistant at St. Augustine High School in New Orleans, known around the state of Louisiana as a powerhouse on the track. Prior to his coaching experience, Jon Riley was two-sport star at Southeast Missouri State. Riley was a four-year starter at wide receiver for the Southeastern Missouri State, Redhawks. In addition to his days on the gridiron, Riley was a track and field standout. He would go on to earn five Ohio Valley Conference individual titles, qualify three times provisionally for the NCAA’s, break the school record in the long jump and score the most combined points in school history at conference meets. A native of New Orleans, La., Riley graduated from Southeast Missouri State in 1998 with a degree in Mass Communications. He later earned his Master’s in Athletic Administration there in 2005. Riley resides in Richmond.

Sage previously spent time at the University of New Orleans, University of Texas, University of Illinois, and Texas A&M University Corpus-Christi before arriving in Richmond. In 2014, Sage arrived at VCU and set his sights on the record books. Sage oversaw 10 top five all-time performances in his first year in addition to helping capture VCU womens track and fields first Atlantic 10 indoor team championship. Individually, Sage helped Kyle Martin to a first place finish in the 60m hurdles at the A10 indoor championships as well as in setting a new school record in the 60m hurdles (7.99). Other VCU top five performances include: In 2013, Sage served as an assistant coach at the University of New Orleans where he helped transition the Privateers back into the Division I ranks. The Privateers qualified three to the NCAA East Preliminary Round and one to NCAA National Championships. Prior to his time at UNO in 2013, Sage spent the first semester working with the Longhorns at the University of Texas. Sage worked alongside newly acquired associate head coach and three-time Olympian Tonja Buford-Bailey. While at UT, Sages main responsibilities included working with the sprints and hurdles while being tasked with running individual practices as well as serving as a recruiting coordinator. In the summer of 2013, Sage assisted Buford-Bailey in working with post collegiate hurdler Andrew Riley. Sage accompanied Riley to the JAAA Jamaican National Senior Championships where Riley won the 110m hurdles advancing him to the 2013 World Championships in Moscow. Capping off his rookie season as a professional, Riley finished 8th at the World Championships while consistently posting times that ranked in the top 10 in the world. In 2012, Sage worked with Buford-Bailey and Mike Erb at the University of Illinois. The Fighting Illini won the 2013 Big Ten Indoor Champions and Sage helped guide them to a 14th place finish at the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor National Championships. Sage assisted Buford-Bailey in coaching Ashley Spencer to a second straight national championship in the 400m. After leaving Illinois Sage's resume includes assisting with 1 NCAA National Champion, 12 NCAA All-Americans, 10 Illinois School Records, and 9 Individual Big Ten Champions. In 2011, Sage served under former Head Coach Randy Bungard as a graduate assistant coach at Texas A&M University Corpus-Christi. Working specifically with the men's and women's throws, jumps and multis, Sage's athletes set school records in the men's and women's high jump, women's javelin, shot put, discus, and heptathlon, in all totaling 7 school records.  Prior to his coaching experience, Sage competed as a decathlete at Marquette University. He was a consistent conference qualifier and point scorer. Sage was a multiple IC4A qualifier and currently ranks third all-time at Marquette in both heptathlon and decathlon. A native of New Berlin, WI, Sage earned his Bachelors from Marquette University. Sage resides in Richmond, VA.  

Tussing has taken that saying to a whole new level. Upon his arrival at VCU in 2007, he took over the cross country and throwing events for the womens team. In 2008 as the womens interim head coach, he additionally took charge of the sprints and jumps events.  The following year, in 2009, he returned to solely guiding the Rams distance runners and throwers. Now heading into the 2012-2013 season, Tussing focus has been upon the throwing events for both men and women for the past two years. At every step in his progression, Tussing has more than succeeded. In order to reach the levels of success the Ram throwers have achieved Tussing has spent countless hours dedicated to the throwing events in order to take that next step. Many of those hours have been spent learning from some of the nations most elite throw coaches. He has been mentored by two time Olympic medalist and NCAA shot put record holder John Godina, former discus world record holder and Olympic gold medalist Mac Wilkins, and legendary hammer throw coach Larry Judge. Tussings hunger for knowledge has been paramount in the teams success in recent years.   The 2012 season was a marquee year for the Ram throwers. The mens and womens twelve throwers scored 90 points at the CAA championship meet, outscoring all other teams in the throwing events and many entire teams in the meet. As a team the VCU throwers collected 7 All-CAA awards, 12 ECAC/IC4A qualifying marks, 1 All-East distinction, and 15 event victories during the year. On the individual side redshirt sophomore Jaleesa Williams started out the year with a streak of five straight meets in which she broke her own school record in the indoor shot put. Williams record breaking didnt stop there as she went on to set additional school records in the weight throw, discus, and outdoor shot put. For her efforts at the CAA championship meet where she won the shot and discus and was third in the hammer, garnering 3 all conference accolades, Williams was named the Womens Most Outstanding Field Performer of the meet. Her performance in the disc at the CAA meet, 1609, secured a spot in the NCAA East Preliminary round, placing her as the first sophomore and second thrower in school history to do so.   On the mens side Brandon Ruffin had a standout freshman campaign in which he was awarded CAA Mens Track and Field Rookie of the Year. Ruffins highlights included winning the CAA title in the mens shot put, taking second in the CAA in the discus, breaking the school record in the discus in his first competition, and qualifying for the USA Junior National Championships in the shot and disc.   The 2011 season, Tussings first with both the mens and womens throwers, was a strategic season in which some key performers were redshirted. Junior Julia Anyaugo highlighted the year when she qualified for the NCAA East Preliminary Rounds after her school record discus throw of 1578, ranked her in the top 48 of the eastern half of the country. This marked the first time in school history that a thrower had qualified for the NCAA post season. Anyaugo paired with fellow junior Samantha Mosley were named All-CAA performaers.The womens duo was joined by Niko Wooten who achieved his All-CAA accolade for finishing 3 in the mens javelin.   In the 2010 season, the womens throwers reached new levels of achievement under Tussings direction. Jaleesa Williams as a freshman shattered the indoor school record in the shot put and qualified for the ECAC Indoor Championships where she finished 10 overall. Outdoors she finished up her amazing shot put season achieving All-CAA recognition with a third place finish at the CAA Championship. She was accompanied in the CAA final by Mosley in 5 place and her sister, sophomore Jessica Williams, in 7.   Despite the accomplishments of the womens shot putters, the discus was the teams most improved event for the year with the school record being held by both Williams sisters and Anyaugo throughout the season. At the end of the season the record ended up in the hands of Anyaugo with a throw that propelled her to a second place finish at the CAA Championships achieving All-CAA accolades. Jaleesa rounded out the CAA discus scoring for the Rams by finishing in 4 place. Anyaugo went on later in the season to finish 10 in the discus at the ECAC Outdoor Championships. Furthermore, sophomore Brandy Preston took 6 place in the hammer throw and junior Kelsey Farmer finished in 8 at the CAA Championships. This was the first time in VCU history that multiple throwers scored in three throwing events at the CAA Championship meet. In addition to the throwers achievements at championship level competitions they also excelled throughout the duration of the season as a whole with each of the womens throwers achieving a personal best; a staple of the program under Tussings tutelage that continues to this day.   In 2009 senior Natalie Duncan achieved the furthest shot put throw of the year in the entire CAA Conference when she crushed the previous VCU school record with a throw of 457.75. She also placed 4 in the CAA championship meet that year. Anyaugo and Mosley as freshmen took fifth  and eighth respectively in the discus at the CAA Championships to become the first VCU freshmen throwers to ever score at the meet.   Vast improvement was the story in 2008 when Tussing led senior Kira Hauser and junior Duncan to improve their throwing distance in the shot put more than three feet from their previous bests. In the process Duncan finished tied for fifth in the CAA championship meet with her first ever throw over 43 feet.   In addition to his success in the throwing events, Tussing has guided VCU athletes to 11 school records, 15 All-CAA accolades, 97 VCU Top Ten All Time performances, and an amazing 187 personal bests. He also guided the cross country team to its highest CAA conference finish in six years, while simultaneously achieving their highest team GPA.   Prior to his arrival in Richmond, Tussing worked for six years with the prestigious Florida Gator Track & Field program in a variety of positions under the guidance of legendary head coach Michael Mouse Holloway. During his latest role at UF as an intern coach of mens middle distance, his athletes excelled to achieve one All-American honor, six NCAA qualifying marks, and one USA Junior National Championship qualifying mark. He also assisted with sprints, hurdles, and relays where he mentored seven additional All-Americans and two SEC Conference Champions. Throughout his entire six-year time with the UF program Tussing was involved in the development of four NCAA National Track & Field Runner-up teams, one SEC Championship team, eight NCAA individual or relay championships, and 105 All-America honorees.   He got his start in coaching as an assist coach for the Gainesville All-Stars Professional Track & Field Club. Working with the club team he helped guide World Champions such as John Capel and Kerron Clement, Olympic Silver Medalist Bernard Williams, World Championship Runner-up Derrick Atkins, and seven additional Olympians. He also trained football players in speed development in preparation for running the 40 yard dash prior to the 2006 NFL Draft.   Tussing graduated cum laude from Florida in 2005 with a degree in Exercise and Sports Science. He is certified by USA Track and Field as a Level 1 Coaching Education Instructor and is certified as a USATF Level 2 Coach in the Throws as well as Sprints, Hurdles, and Relays.

Cook was named Assistant Track & Field Coach and Director of Cross Country in August of 2010. Prior to her arrival in Richmond, Cook had spent time on the professional track circuit and in high school coaching. "Nicole is going to be an incredible asset for this program," Track & Field Head Coach Jon Riley said. "She's very familiar with the area and well-known throughout the state. With her addition, we hope to attract high quality distance athletes. We're not looking for a quick fix, but I feel over a period of time, we can demonstrate our commitment to getting better in that area." Her addition to the Virginia Commonwealth University Track & Field staff was a bit of a homecoming. Cook was a decorated high school track star a half hour down I-95 at Petersburg High School before her decorated career as a Tennessee Volunteer. Cook was a headliner for the Petersburg High Crimson Wave, racking up state and national accolades. She was the state champion in the 500 meters and indoor national champion in the 800 meters. To this day, several of her high school state records still stand. Her collegiate career was just as decorated as her high school career. During her time at Tennessee, Cook became the premiere 800 meter runner in the SEC. She made an immediate impact in Knoxville and was named Track & Field Lady Vol Athlete of the Year as a freshman. She later became a fixture on the Vols Distance Medley Relay squad, which won an NCAA Indoor Championship in 2004. Cook would also earn individual glory becoming an 800 meter national champion. That same year, Cook made it to the final 800 meter qualifying round of the Olympic trials. Her excellence on the track was matched in the classroom, as she also made the Lady Vol Academic Honor Roll in 2004. She graduated from Tennessee with a degree in Social Work. Cooks personal inspirations as an athlete included three-time gold medalist of the 1960 Rome Olympic games, Wilma Rudolph and four-time Olympian, and fellow Tennessee alum, Joetta Clark. She hopes to build on her rock star status in the local track & field community and help create a new generation of stars at VCU.