Radford University Athletics

JaRod Tobler enters his second season as an assistant coach of Radford's track and field program, focusing on jumps and multi-events.
 
“We are thrilled to have Coach Tobler join our staff,” commented Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Brent Chumbley. “I have known JaRod for over 10 years and his experience as a coach and professional athlete will have a huge impact on our team. I expect big things from our jumpers this year!”
 
As a professional track and field athlete for the USA national team, Tobler brings with him over four years experience in national and international competition. In addition to his professional career, Tobler has had success in collegiate coaching.
 
Tobler got his first coaching position at East Tennessee State in 2006 where he assisted with recruiting, planning and administration for the Buccaneers’ track and field program. During his tenure, he helped lead the men’s squad to indoor and outdoor conference titles.
 
After one season with the Johnson City, Tenn. institution, Tobler’s next coaching move led him to Eastern Illinois in 2007. While there, Tobler coached the men’s and women’s squads to six league championships. When combining his two coaching stops at ETSU and EIU, Tobler has coached multiple conference championship teams, individual conference champions, as well as multiple regional qualifiers.
 
His success in coaching carried over into his professional career. During the 2008 campaign, Tobler came out of retirement and finished sixth at the 2008 USA Olympic Trials in the long jump. That level of success led Tobler to leave Eastern Illinois in 2010 to pursue a professional career.
 
He trained at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif. from 2010-11. His hard work led him to a second-place finish at the 2011 Indoor Championships; and more recently, a seventh-place finish at this year’s USA Olympic Trials.
 
“By getting back into coaching allows me to combine my professional and coaching experience to help develop the student-athletes at Radford University,” expressed Tobler. “I am excited to be a part of a program that has high values and is focused on what is best for their student-athletes.”
 
A 2004 graduate of Illinois State with a bachelor’s degree in telecommunications management, is Level I certified by the United States of America Track and Field (USATF).