NORMAL, Ill.– Illinois State Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Jeff Bovee announced the hiring of Michael Bartolina as the assistant coach in charge of pole vault and horizontal jumps for the Redbirds on Friday afternoon. Bartolina joins the Redbird staff after spending two seasons as an assistant coach with the Louisiana Tech track & field program. He replaces former coach Mary Wood, who accepted a position at the University of Illinois.
"I am thrilled to work with Mike and welcome him and his family to the Bloomington-Normal community," Bovee said.
With 22 years of coaching experience at the Division 1 level, Bartolina has guided 13 athletes to All-America honors and 50+ qualifiers to the NCAA Preliminary Championships during his time at Louisiana Tech, Alabama and Southeastern Louisiana.