Sept. 1, 2004
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State track and field coach Rahn Sheffield has announced the hiring Wednesday of Michael LoBue as an assistant coach. LoBue will be in charge of the Aztecs' jumping and throwing events.
LoBue brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to San Diego State. He comes to Montezuma Mesa after assisting at the University of Utah the last three years as the jumps and multi-events coach.
At Utah, LoBue developed the women's pole vault program from a nonexistent event in 2001, to one of the strongest in the Mountain West Conference. He also served as the strength and conditioning coach for the men and women's cross country teams and was instrumental in reinstating field events within the Utah men's track and field program in Jan. 2004.
LoBue coached Utah's Dustin Cutrer to a sixth-place finish in the javelin, becoming the first male student-athlete to score in a field event at a conference championship in more than a decade. After coaching the Mountain West Conference champion in the women's pole vault in 2003, LoBue tutored Jenn Jackman to an eighth-place finish in the 400-meter hurdles at the 2004 NCAA West Regional.
LoBue also coached at the University of Nebraska in 2000, where he worked with the pole vault and multi-event student-athletes.
LoBue was as a volunteer coach at his alma mater Fresno State from 1999-2000, and worked with the jumps and relays at Golden West High School (Visalia, Calif.) from 1996-2001.
A 2001 graduate of the Fresno State with a degree in mass communication and journalism, LoBue was a member of the track and field team, competing in both the pole vault and decathlon. He earned a master's degree in sport psychology from Utah in 2004.
A native of Visalia, Calif., LoBue and his wife, Brooke, reside in San Diego.