Hokies add Dubs as throws coach

Andrew Dubs joins Tech as an assistant coach

July 28, 2017

BLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech track and field and cross country director Dave Cianelli announced Friday that Andrew Dubs has been named the assistant coach in charge of throwing events.

Dubs comes most recently from the University of Iowa, where he oversaw the throwing events for both the men’s and women’s programs and held the title of assistant coach and director of track and field facilities.

"I am very excited to announce the addition of Andrew Dubs to our coaching staff,” Cianelli said. “Andrew will be responsible for the throwing events and brings a strong background of developing young student-athletes in his area of discipline. Coach Dubs has done an outstanding job at the University of Iowa and before at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina. At each stop, Andrew has demonstrated his skills as a recruiter and developer of talent. These elements were exactly what I was looking for in the person that would take over as our throws coach. Coach Dubs is a great fit for Virginia Tech and our program and is the right person to continue Virginia Tech’s long tradition of throwers.”

Dubs coached for three years in Iowa City, Iowa, tutoring four All-Americans and 17 B1G Ten medalists. He saw three school records fall during his time, and Laulauga Tausaga won a gold medal at the Pan American Junior Championships in the discus event.

He also was an assistant coach on the Nigeria National Team in 2014-15, directing all aspects of the throwing events for the Nigerian National and Junior National teams.

Prior to Iowa, Dubs coached at Harvard for two seasons from 2012-14, overseeing the throwing events for the both the men and women and coordinating team travel and home meets, including the hosting the 2013 Ivy League Championships. While at Harvard, he was a part of three Ivy League women’s team championships. He saw 12 school records broken during his time there, and coaches seven Ivy League champions and two NCAA All-Americans.

"I really would like to thank Tom Gabbard [senior associate AD for facilities] and Nick Vaccaro [assistant director in Student-Athlete Academic Support Services] for their time and efforts during this process,” Dubs stated. “I also would like to thank Athletics Director Whit Babcock and Senior Associate Athletics Director Chris Helms for their incredible continued support for track and field here at Virginia Tech.

"From my first conversation with Coach Cianelli to my visit on campus, it was clear to me that Virginia Tech is a special place. Between the people, the university itself, the facility infrastructure, and the support from the administration, it became evident as to how Coach Cianelli has built Virginia Tech into one of the best overall programs in the country. It is an honor for me to work for Coach Cianelli here at Virginia Tech. The Hokie throws group has always been among the best throws groups in the NCAA, and I could not be more ready or excited for the opportunity to continue the tradition and add to the list of ACC and NCAA champions."

Atlantic Coast Conference ties are a part of Dubs’ resume, as he worked for ACC member institution North Carolina for one season in 2011-12. While in Chapel Hill, Dubs got to work with the throwers for the first time in his career and did not disappoint. He produced two NCAA qualifiers and two All-ACC athletes, as well as signing five first-team All-Americans from the high school ranks in a class that was graded as one of the top throwing classes in the country.

Dubs began his career in coaching at Auburn University, where he was a volunteer assistant coach for one season in 2010-11. He worked with all team travel and coordinated home meets, while also assisting in the training of two All-Americans – Eric Werskey and Stephen Saenz.

A former standout thrower for the University of Connecticut, Dubs was a three-time NCAA qualifier and four-time BIG EAST champion in the shot put for the Huskies. He was also an All-BIG EAST Conference selection eight times in the shot put and twice in the discus. During his time with the Huskies, Dubs was an active member and president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).

Dubs, a native of Holland, Pennsylvania, earned a B.S in kinesiology: coaching and administration from UConn in 2009, and he earned a M. Ed. in higher education and sport management from Auburn in 2012.

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