Cliff Felkins - Track and Field Coach - Texas Tech Red Raiders

Cliff Felkins

Title:
Assistant Coach - Throws
Email:
cliff.felkins@ttu.edu
Phone:
(806) 834-4257

At Texas Tech...
2 National Championships (2019 outdoor, 2024 indoor)
3 NCAA Champions
3 Olympians
38 All-Americans
USTFCCCA Mountain Region Women's Assistant of the Year (2008 Outdoor, 2009 Indoor, 2011 Outdoor, 2012 Indoor, 2016 Outdoor)

Cliff Felkins is entering his 25th season as the throws coach in 2024-25.

The 2024 season season was highlighted beginning with the NCAA Indoor team title run as he guided Jacob Mechler to his first NCAA appearance, competing in the weight throw - Mechler was the runner-up in the event at the conference meet. When it came to the outdoor portion, he mentored freshman shot putter Trey Wilson to national status as one of the top freshmen in the country, sending him to the NCAA outdoor meet. Meanwhile, on the women's side, he helped guide newcomer Zoe Burleson in the discus to her first-ever NCAA appearance, capping off her season in Eugene.

Felkin's 2023 Big 12 outdoor season saw both discus champions from the men and women side as Devin Roberson and Malin Smith each brought the trophy home.

During the 2022 season, Felkin's side produced three 1st Team All-Americans and three Big 12 Champions. Tech swept the conference indoor weight throw with Gabe Oladipo and Seasons Usual striking victory, while Kayli Johnson won the outdoor shot put title, breaking the school record in the process. Oladipo went on to represent TTU at the NCAA Indoor meet placing 3rd in the weight throw. When it came to the NCAA Outdoor Championships, Tech finished 3rd (Malin Smith) and 5th (Usual), respectively, in the discus, led by Smith who tossed a personal best mark of 56.76m (186-3).

The 2021 season witnessed Oladipo and Usual claim the conference weight throw title as Oladipo went on to claim the discus crown in the outdoor portion. Despite Johnson placing 5th in the indoor Big 12 shot put, she went on to become a 1st Team All-American with an 8th place outing at the NCAA meet.

Prior to the rest of the 2020 indoor season being canceled due to COVID 19, the Red Raiders still capped off the Big 12 indoors with a champion as Usual Seasons claimed the weight throw crown. In 2021, Felkins produced another Big 12 champion in the throws with Gabe Oladipo taking the discus crown. Seasons would end the year as an Outdoor First Team All-American and Indoor Second Team All-American. Meanwhile, Oladipo was dubbed in Indoor Second Team All-American.

Cliff Felkins has established himself as one of the top throws coaches in track and field. The NCAA Hall of Fame member has coached over two dozen All-Americans while also overseeing the strength and conditioning programs for Tech track and field. Felkins was also the head strength coach for all Tech Olympic sports for several years, and also served as the men's basketball strength coach under Bob Knight.

2019 marked Felkins' 19th season as the throws coach at Texas Tech with yet another national champion in the discus. Felkins coached Duke Kicinski to the national title, resulting in the clinching 10 points of the first men's NCAA Championship in Texas Tech history. With the title, Kicinski joined Felkins as the only other thrower to win the discus at both the Division I and Division II level. In addition to Kicinski's title, Felkins was also responsible for Second Team All-America performances from Werner Bouwer (javelin) and Seasons Usual (discus).

Felkins' first thrower to turn his teachings into success was Jason Young in 2003, who was a two-time All-American in the discus. Shortly after, success was delivered on the women's side with D'Andra Carter. Carter was a two-time Big 12 Champion and three-time All-American in addition to Felkins' first national champion at Tech when she won the discus in 2009.

Heading into the 2010s, Felkins and his throws group continued its ascent to another level. It was kickstarted by Julian Wruck, whose dominance in the discus led to 20 All-America performances, 10 Big 12 Championships, and yet another national champion in the form of Kicinski.

Before arriving at Texas Tech, Felkins was a member of Wes Kittley's staff at Abilene Christian, where he coached the team's throwers and served as the strength coach for both the men's and women's intercollegiate programs. He joined the ACU staff in 1992 and lifted the throwers to unprecedented heights. During his tenure, Felkins coached the Wildcat throwers to 36 All-American performances, five national championships, four Olympic trials and one Olympian.

In 1987, Felkins became the first and only Division II field event athlete to win a Division I national title, forcing the Division I coaches to change the rules, banning Division II athletes from competing at the Division I Championships. Felkins competed at Olympic trials, Olympic festivals and U.S. National Championships before retiring in 1996. Felkins was also inducted into the NCAA Hall of Fame for his collegiate accomplishments.

Cliff Felkins Coaching File at Tech

NCAA Champions (3)
Duke Kicinski - Discus (outdoor 2019)
Julian Wruck - Discus (outdoor 2011)
D'Andra Carter - Discus (outdoor 2009)

All-Americans (38)
Malin Smith - Discus (outdoor 2022)
Seasons Usual - Discus (outdoor 2022)
Gabe Oladipo - Weight Throw (indoor 2022)
Ususal Seasons - Discus (outdoor 2021)
Kayli Johnson - Shot Put (indoor 2021)
Ususal Seasons - Weight Throw (indoor 2021)
Gabe Oladipo - Weight Throw (indoor 2021)
Gabe Oladipo - Weight Throw (indoor 2020)
Duke Kicinski - Discus (outdoor 2019)
Seasons Usual - Discus (outdoor 2019)
Werner Bouwer - Javelin (outdoor 2019)
Duke Kicinski - Discus (outdoor 2018)
Werner Bouwer - Javelin (outdoor 2017)
Natalie Baker - Javelin (outdoor 2016)
Hannah Carson - Javelin (outdoor 2016)
Hannah Carson - Discus (outdoor 2016)
Kole Weldon - Discus (outdoor 2015)
Hannah Carson - Javelin (outdoor 2015)
Kole Weldon - Shot Put (indoor 2015)
Kole Weldon - Shot Put (outdoor 2013)
Kole Weldon - Shot Put (indoor 2013)
Kelly Closse - Weight Throw (indoor 2012)
Kelly Closse - Shot Put (indoor 2012)
Julian Wruck - Discus (outdoor 2011)
Ifeatu Okafor - Shot Put (outdoor 2011)
Kelly Closse - Shot Put (indoor 2011)
Kelly Closse - Weight Throw (indoor 2011)
Julian Wruck - Discus (outdoor 2010)
Harrison Benjamin - Shot Put (outdoor 2009)
D'Andra Carter - Discus (outdoor 2009)
Patience Knight - Shot Put (indoor 2009)
Harrison Benjamin - Shot Put (outdoor 2008)
D'Andra Carter - Discus (outdoor 2008)
Patience Knight - Shot Put (outdoor 2008)
Patience Knight - Shot Put (indoor 2008)
D'Andra Carter - Discus (outdoor 2007)
Jason Young - Discus (outdoor 2004)
Jason Young - Discus (outdoor 2003)

Big 12 Champions (24)
Kayli Johnson - Shot Put (outdoor 2022)
Seasons Usual - Weight Throw (indoor 2022)
Gabriel Oladipo - Weight Throw (indoor 2022)
Gabriel Oladipo - Discus (outdoor 2021)
Seasons Usual - Weight Throw (indoor 2021)
Gabe Oladipo - Weight Throw (indoor 2021)
Seasons Usual - Weight Throw (indoor 2020)
Duke Kicinski - Discus (outdoor 2019)
Duke Kicinski - Discus (outdoor 2018)
Werner Bouwer - Javelin (outdoor 2017)
Hannah Carson - Discus (outdoor 2015)
Kole Weldon - Hammer Throw (outdoor 2015)
Hannah Carson - Javelin (outdoor 2015)
Kelly Closse - Weight Throw (indoor 2012)
Julian Wruck - Discus (outdoor 2011)
Ifeatu Okafor - Shot Put (outdoor 2011)
Kelly Closse - Weight Throw (indoor 2011)
Harrison Benjamin - Shot Put (outdoor 2009)
D'Andra Carter - Discus (outdoor 2009)
Patience Knight - Shot Put (outdoor 2009)
Patience Knight - Shot Put (indoor 2009)
D'Andra Carter - Discus (indoor 2008)
Patience Knight - Shot Put (indoor 2008)
Patience Knight - Shot Put (indoor 2008)