Diane Wholey Position: Associate Head Coach Experience: 1st Year at Tech

Diane Wholey enters her first year as a member of the Texas Tech staff. She comes to Lubbock from the University of Texas where she was an assistant coach for two years and handled coaching duties for field events and heptathletes and was also the Longhorns' recruiting coordinator. By bringing Wholey to Lubbock, Tech has made an immediate impact, adding a coach who can recruit top flight athletes to the program and is also a skilled instructor with the ability to help those athletes become the best in their sport.

During her two years at Texas Wholey was able to enjoy success at the highest level as she helped coach the Longhorns to the NCAA indoor and outdoor championships in 1998 and 1999. She also helped the Texas program garner the 1998 and 1999 Big 12 titles.

Wholey began her track and field career in coaching circles as a freshman at the University of Houston in 1980 where she worked as a manager for the track and cross country teams. Wholey transferred to Texas A&M for her sophomore year and managed the Aggies track teams for the next four years.

After graduating with a B.S. in physical education, Wholey began her highly successful prep coaching career. From 1985-89 she served as head boy's and girl's cross country coach and head girl's track coach at Spring (Texas) High School. At Spring, Wholey consistently produced regional and state meet contenders. Her success on the prep level led directly to her appointment as a graduate assistant coach for the track and field and cross country programs at the University of Tennessee. During her two years at Tennesee she helped lead the Volunteers to three top 10 national finishes in both indoor and outdoor track to go along with two top 15 national finishes in cross country.

Wholey earned her master's degree in physical education from Tennesee and then accepted a full time position as assistant track and field coach at the University of Mississippi. Wholey coached both the men's and women's programs during her six years at Mississippi. Her duties included coordinating men's and women's recruiting as well as coaching heptathletes, decathletes, hurdlers, throwers and high jumpers.

Wholey has also played an important role in track and field on the national level. She is currently the vice president for the U.S. Women's Track Coaches Association. She served as an assistant coach for the United States at the 1997 Pan American Junior Championships in Havana, Cuba. Twice Wholey has coached at U.S. Olympic Festivals, serving as assistant coach in 1994, followed by a head coaching stint for the women's south team in 1995.

Wholey is the only female in the U.S. currently active as a level II jumps instructor. She is certified as a USA Track and Field Level II coach in sprints, hurdles and relays, throws jumps and combined events. She is also an active member of U.S. Women's Track Coaches Association, serving as the organization's vice president.

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