Brian Schweyen Position: Program Director

The 2011-12 track and field season is Brian Schweyen's fourth year as the University of Montana's Director of Track and Field. He was hired in August 2008.

Schweyen oversees a staff of four full-time assistants and a program of more than 75 athletes.

Under Schweyen's leadership, the Grizzlies have experienced dramatic improvements, particularly on the women's team.

The Montana women have finished in the top three at the four most recent indoor and outdoor Big Sky Conference championships, taking third at the 2010 indoor and outdoor and 2011 indoor championships and second at the 2011 outdoor meet.

The third-place indoor finishes matched the program's best result since 1994, and the 2011 outdoor runner-up finish was the program's best showing since 1987.

The Griz women have produced seven individual Big Sky titles under Schweyen and three indoor relay championships.

During the 2011 indoor and outdoor seasons Montana set 10 new school records, Katrina Drennen advanced to the NCAA indoor championships and Drennen, Kara DeWalt and Lindsey Hall competed at the NCAA outdoor championships.

The Montana women's cross country team also won the 2010 Big Sky championship, the program's first conference title since 1984.

For the Montana men, Jason Flemmer was the 2010 and 2011 Big Sky javelin champion.

Between the women's and men's programs, 24 athletes have advanced to NCAA outdoor regionals in three seasons under Schweyen.

Schweyen began his affiliation with Montana in 1994 following an all-America track and field career at Montana State. Schweyen worked as a volunteer assistant with the Grizzlies for three seasons (1994-95 to 1996-97) before being elevated into a full-time assistant coach for the 1997-98 season.

Schweyen worked under former head coach Tom Raunig as an assistant for 10 years before moving into a full-time art career following the 2007 outdoor season. Schweyen's hiatus lasted just one year before he returned in the summer of 2008 to replace Raunig.

During his 10-year, full-time tenure Schweyen coached the Grizzlies in the multi-events, pole vault, javelin and jumps. He coached his athletes to 38 Big Sky Conference titles in those event areas and guided five athletes to six all-America finishes in the decathlon, javelin and pole vault.

Schweyen coached all-America decathletes Troy McDonough ('99), Adam Bork ('01 and '02) and Andrew Levin ('05) and guided Suzanne Krings to an all-America pole vault finish at the 2001 NCAA indoor championships and Dane Brubaker to an all-America finish in the javelin at the 2005 NCAA outdoor championships.

A native of East Helena, Mont., Schweyen was an all-America high jumper at Montana State. He competed for the Bobcats from 1988 to 1991. Schweyen was a seven-time All-Big Sky Conference performer and won six BSC titles in the high jump and pole vault.

Schweyen, whose personal bests were 17-6 in the pole vault and 7-4 in the high jump, finished fourth in the high jump at the 1990 NCAA indoor championships. He competed at the 1994 and 1995 USA Track and Field championships, placing eighth in the decathlon in '94.

Schweyen is married to Lady Griz assistant coach Shannon Schweyen. The couple has three daughters, Jordyn, Shelby and Sheridan.

Montana's cross country finishes under Schweyen
2008: Women, 5th; Men, 4th
2009: Women, 3rd; Men, 3rd
2010: Women, 1st; Men, 8th

Montana's indoor track and field finishes under Schweyen
2009: Women, 8th; Men, 7th
2010: Women, 3rd; Men, 7th
2011: Women, 3rd; Men, 7th

Montana's outdoor track and field finishes under Schweyen
2009: Women, 5th; Men, 7th
2010: Women, 3rd; Men, 5th
2011: Women, 2nd; Men, 6th