Cal Poly Pomona's proud tradition of quality cross country and track and field is under the watchful eye of Troy Johnson, who enters his fifth year at the helm during the 2011-12 campaign.
During the first week of 2012, Johnson completed a week of coaches' training in Chula Vista at the U.S. Olympic Center as he worked toward a diploma for the Academy for Sprints and Hurdles. Once Johnson finishes an interdisciplinary study this summer, he will receive the USATF/IAAF Academy diploma and certification
Johnson, along with his dedicated assistants, helped four Bronco student-athletes qualify for the 2011 NCAA Division II Track & Field Championships held in Turlock, Calif. On the women's side, Heather Corder (hurdles) and Tramieka Thomas (hurdles, long jump) competed and represented CPP well. On the men's side, Jacob Deavers (hurdles) and Lance Walkington (javelin) performed strong enough to earn All-American honors.
At the 2011 California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Track & Field Championships, the Broncos' men's team took fourth while the women's squad finished sxith.
In Fall 2010, the Broncos' cross country teams turned in an impressive fall campaign with Johnson's leadership. The women's squad advanced to nationals for the first time since 1985 and ended up placing 19th at the D-II Championships held in Louisville, Ky. On the men's side, CPP took fifth at the NCAA West Region race in Washington, narrowly missing the chance to move on. Both squads were featured in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) top 25 poll during the later stages of the season.
The Broncos hosted the 2010 CCAA Championships in Whittier and CPP took second for both the men's and women's races. Four Bronco runners on the men's side earned All-CCAA First Team honors while Tiffany Dinh paced the CPP women and took second overall.
Three of Johnson's track and field athletes advanced to the 2010 NCAA Division II National Championships, including All-American sprinter Jonathan Williams along with decathlete Michael Hernandez and Tokunbo Adeniji on the women's side. At the California Collegiate Athletic Association Championships hosted by UC San Diego in early May, the Broncos' men took third while the women placed fifth. Williams, Kyle Wolff and Ileana Tejada won individual titles for CPP while the Broncos' 4x400 relay team also placed first.
The 2009 cross country season brought about many accolades for CPP, as the Broncos' men's squad took second at the CCAA Championships and fifth at the NCAA West Region race. CPP was also featured as high as No. 15 in the D-II poll.
In 2008-09, Johnson’s teams stood out in both cross country and track and field. The Broncos had four All-CCAA athletes in cross country with male newcomer of the year Jersain Torres and freshman of the year Clint Hostetler. In track and field, sprinter Williams (100 meters) and Tiffany Turner (3,000 meter steeplechase) earned All-American honors at the NCAA Division II meet in San Angelo, Texas, as eight Broncos competed in the event.
The Johnson era began in earnest in 2007-08. Seven Broncos earned a place in the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships, hosted by Cal Poly Pomona at Mt. SAC. Long jumper Jasmine Winn became Johnson’s first all-American while at CPP as she placed third in the event.
Among the highlights in Johnson’s first year were school records set by Tejada and Turner in the steeplechase. Men’s 800-meter runner and Division II qualifier Joaquin Ortiz dropped his personal best in the event by five seconds, while the Broncos featured two CCAA champions -- Adrienne Schumm in the women’s 10,000 and Sofiane Meniri in the men’s 800. Also, men’s 400-runner Carter Griffin was named the CCAA Track and Field Freshman of the Year, and Alberto Diaz earned CCAA Cross Country freshman of the Year honors to round out a solid debut for Johnson.
Johnson served seven years as the assistant track and field coach at Cal State Stanislaus. He created Stanislaus’ strength, speed and conditioning program, and 2004 and 2005 NCAA Division II pole vault champion Chaunte Mitchell worked under his tutelage. He helped coach 31 Division II national qualifiers, 11 all-Americans including Joel Stallworth, a member of the 2008 World Indoor 4 x 400-meter relay gold medalist team and 2007 outdoor 400-meter national runner-up, and 11 California Collegiate Athletic Association champions while at Cal State Stanislaus.
Coach Johnson is a USATF Level I certified instructor and holds USATF Level II certifications in the areas of Endurance, Jumps and Sprints/Hurdles. He currently serves on the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCA) executive committee as Second Vice President.. He also has volunteered at numerous NCAA Division I Track and Field Championships and at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials.
Johnson, an Akron, Ohio, native, is a 1994 graduate of Utah State University, where he competed on the Aggies’ track and field team. He was the 1993 Big West Conference 400-meter champion and ran on the victorious 400 and 1600-relay teams and finished second in the 200. Both relay teams established school records at Utah State. During that season’s indoor season, he was the Pac-10/ Big West 400-meter champion (MPSF) and formerly held the school indoor 400-meter record.
Johnson earned a provisional qualifying time in the 400-meter hurdles for the 1996 U.S. Olympic Trials. He also competed at Cuesta College, a two-year community college in San Luis Obispo. He served as the team’s captain and earned team MVP honors in 1991 and won the WSC conference community college 400 meters and remains the school record holder at Cuesta College. He also was the conference runner-up in the 400 in 1989.
Johnson also spent three years with the Utah State University Police Department, located in Logan.
Johnson, his wife Erlynn and their daughter Ela reside in Upland.
