BOURBONNAIS, Ill. - ONU Track & Field and Cross Country Head Coach Kyle Rago announced that Zontavius Johnson has joined his staff as an Assistant Track & Field Coach. He will work primarily with the Tigers' sprinters.

Johnson brings over 15 years of track & field coaching experience to the ONU program. He most recently served as the head women's track & field coach at Benedictine University, while also working as the men's sprint and hurdles coach for the Eagles.

"I am extremely blessed for the opportunity to lead the men and women's sprint and hurdles program," said Johnson. "Coming back to the south suburbs is truly a blessing and I am looking forward to the challenges ahead." 

Prior to Benedictine, Johnson spent a year as the sprint and hurdles coach at Aurora University where he produced 23 All-Conference athletes during the shortened 2019-20 season.

A decorated high school coach, Johnson was selected as the 2019 USTFCCCA Illinois High Coach of the Year and also received high school coach of the year honors from NFHS in 2019 while directing the Homewood-Flossmoor girls' program.

In total, Johnson has coached and mentored 105 state qualifiers, 59 All-State runners and jumpers, and 19 NCAA All-Americans throughout his tenure. He is also a certified USATF Level 1 coach and USATF Youth Level 2 coach.

"Having Zontavius join our staff is a home run hire as far as I am concerned," said Rago. "He has been successful every place he has previously coached and we look forward to him leading the ONU sprints program and raising the bar even higher."

--ONU—

*Contact: Evan Wild, Sports Information Director, ewwild@olivet.edu