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14th Year at Penn State Dr. Andrew Hardyk is in his 15th year on the Nittany Lion staff and will be coaching the Nittany Lion high jumpers, pole vaulters, and multi-event athletes in 2008. Hardyk's athletes had an outstanding year in 2007, including a pair of All-America performances from Ryan Fritz, who posted a fifth-place finish in the NCAA high jump indoors, and tied for ninth outside. Fritz, who was also named Mid-Atlantic Region Field Athlete of the Year indoors, captured both Big Ten titles and took top honors at the NCAA East Regional Championships. Including Fritz's two NCAA certificates, Hardyk has coached 10 athletes to 18 NCAA All-America finishes during his tenure at Penn State. Hardyk's decathletes also posted some tremendous performances last year, as Chris Morrisey, Shawn Colligan and James Myles managed a one-two-three sweep at the prestigious Penn Relays, while heptathlete Amber Strouse earned a second-place standing in the women's competition. Morrisey and Colligan would also make a splash on the Big Ten scene, finishing second and third at the outdoor conference meet with both Lion athletes tallying personal-best and NCAA provisional-qualifying scores. Hardyk led three athletes to NCAA regional-qualifying performances in 2007, including Fritz and Strouse in the high jump, and freshman Caitlin Fairbairn in the pole vault. Hardyk also continues to coach former PSU All-American Ryan Olkowski, who finished 10th in the decathlon at the 2007 USATF Championships, and went on to compete in the annual USA vs. Germany decathlon in Bernhausen, Germany. Hardyk led Olkowski to three All-America performances while he was an athlete at Penn State, including top eight finishes in the high jump and 200-meters during the 2002 Indoor Championships. Hardyk made an international appearance of his own this past summer, as he was selected to serve as men's head coach of the United States team at the 2007 NACAC Championships in El Salavador. The event was Hardyk's first-career appearance on an international coaching staff. During his first 13 years at Penn State, Hardyk covered the sprints, hurdles, jumps and relays as an assistant for the men's program. All told, Hardyk coached athletes have won 11 Big Ten Individual titles, and have set 19 Penn State records. Hardyk has also guided two NCAA East Regional record holders with Ryan Fritz tying the high jump record last season, and Chavous Nichols setting a meet record in his triple jump victory in 2004. In 2006, Hardyk led Fritz and Ron Jules to IC4A indoor titles, and saw Fritz and Clarence Smith earn Junior All-America finishes at the USATF Junior National Championships. Fritz's second-place finish was also good for a spot on the World Junior Championship team in Beijing, China. Hardyk received his bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering in 1992 and a master's degree in Engineering Mechanics (orthopedic biomechanics) in 1993 from the University of Cincinnati. He completed his PhD in Kinesiology (sports biomechanics) in December of 2000 at Penn State. At Cincinnati, he competed in the long jump and the sprints for the Bearcats, qualifying for the NCAA Championships in the long jump his senior year and was selected team captain. Post-collegiately, Hardyk competed at a national-class level in the long jump and the 100 meter dash. He competed in the 1994 and 1995 USA Track and Field Championships as well as the 1995 US Olympic Festival in the long jump. He also competed in the 100 meter dash at the 1997 and 1998 USA Track and Field Championships. Hardyk's wife, Angela, is a physician practicing in State College. The couple has two boys, Ethan, age four, and Spencer, who is two years old. Coaching Experience Graduate Manager Assistant Coach Outstanding athletes coached Steve Pina - Third at NCAAs and Big Ten Champion in the long jump in 1996. John Gorham - Three-time All-American in the long jump (1997-98) George Audu - Two-time Big Ten Champion (1998-99), three-time All-American (1998-99) and 2000 British Olympic Trials Champion in the long jump. Brian Derby - Fourth at 2001 NCAAs in the 400 meter Intermediate hurdles and two-time Big Ten Champion (2001, 2003). JT Kuretich - 2003 Big Ten Decathlon Champion Ben Karcz - Five-time current or former Penn State record holder (500, 600, 4x400 indoor, 4x400 outdoor, sprint medley relay). Chavous Nichols - 2004 East Region triple jump champion and 2003 All-American. Jaret Campisi - 2005 Big Ten 400 meter Intermediate Hurdles champion. Member of five Penn State record setting relay teams (4x200 indoor and outdoor, sprint medley, 4x400, distance medley). Ryan Olkowski - Five-time All-American (200 (2x), high jump (2x), long jump) and eighth place finisher at 2004 Olympic Trials decathlon.
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