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Dr. Andrew Hardyk, entering his 16th year with the Nittany Lion track and field program, led his athletes to another impressive year in 2008, including an NCAA appearance from Shawn Colligan, who placed 16th in the decathlon at the NCAA Championships. Hardyk's years of dedication and success did not go unrecognized in 2008, as he was named Mid-Atlantic Region Men's Assistant Coach of the Year during the outdoor season. Hardyk is the primary coach for the Nittany Lion high jumpers, pole vaulters, and multi-event athletes. The Nittany Lion decathletes continued to excel in their second year under Hardyk's direction in 2008, as Colligan qualified for the NCAA Championships, after finishing just a point out of a conference gold medal at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships. Colligan's runner-up standing at the conference meet marked the second straight year a Hardyk-coached athlete won silver-medal honors, as Chris Morrisey finished second in the Big Ten decathlon in 2007. Hardyk's multi-event duo impressed throughout the 2008 campaign, as Morrisey won the Penn Relays' decathlon crown for the second-straight year, and Colligan recorded Penn State decathlon records in both the 100-meters and the javelin throw. Colligan and Morrisey both recorded personal bests over the course of the season, with Colligan posting a total of 7361 points, and Morrisey scoring 7097 - both among the top ten performances in the Penn State's storied decathlon history. Hardyk also led two-time All-American Ryan Fritz to a Big Ten runner-up finish in 2008, as well as an appearance at the U.S. Olympic Trials, in Eugene, Ore. Hardyk also had an outstanding year on the recruiting trail in 2008, drawing several of the top decathletes and pole vaulters in the country to Happy Valley. Hardyk's 2008 recruiting class includes the likes of Jason Pelletier - the 2008 Nike Indoor National Champion in the pole vault with a clearance of 16-10.25 - and Anya Uzoh - a promising decathlete and multiple-time state champion from the state of Maryland. On the women's side, Hardyk brought in vaulters Jocelyn Witmer and Amanda Palenchar, who both cleared over 12 feet during the high school careers and claimed top five finishes at the Pennsylvania State Championships in both 2007 and 2008. Hardyk's athletes had an outstanding year in 2007, highlighted by a pair of All-America performances from Fritz, who posted a fifth-place finish in the NCAA high jump indoors, and tied for ninth outside. Fritz, who was also named Mid-Atlantic Region Field Athlete of the Year indoors, also captured both Big Ten titles, and took top honors at the NCAA East Regional Championships. Including Fritz's two NCAA certificates, Hardyk has coached 10 athletes to 19 NCAA All-America finishes during his tenure at Penn State. Hardyk's decathletes also posted some tremendous performances in 2007 as Morrisey, Colligan, and James Myles managed a one-two-three sweep at the prestigious Penn Relays, and heptathlete Amber Strouse earned a second-place standing in the women's competition. Morrisey and Colligan would also make a splash on the Big Ten scene, finishing second and third at the outdoor conference meet. Hardyk led three athletes to NCAA regional-qualifying performances in 2007, including Fritz and Strouse in the high jump, and freshman Caitlin Fairbairn in the pole vault. Hardyk also continues to coach former PSU All-American Ryan Olkowski, who finished 10th in the decathlon at the 2007 USATF Championships, and went on to compete in the annual USA vs. Germany decathlon in Bernhausen, Germany. Hardyk led Olkowski to three All-America performances while he was an athlete at Penn State, including top eight finishes in the high jump and 200-meters during the 2002 Indoor Championships. Olkowski placed 12th at the recent U.S. Olympic Trials, and recorded a personal-best 7877 during the outdoor season - the ninth-highest score by an American in 2008. Hardyk made an international appearance of his own in 2007, as he was selected to serve as men's head coach of the United States team at the 2007 NACAC Championships in El Salavador. During his first 13 years at Penn State, Hardyk covered the sprints, hurdles, jumps and relays as an assistant for the men's program. All told, Hardyk coached athletes have won 11 Big Ten Individual titles, and have set 19 Penn State records. Hardyk has also guided two NCAA East Regional record holders with Ryan Fritz tying the high jump record last season, and Chavous Nichols setting a meet record in his triple jump victory in 2004. Hardyk received his bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering in 1992 and a master's degree in Engineering Mechanics (orthopedic biomechanics) in 1993 from the University of Cincinnati. He completed his PhD in Exercise and Sports Sciences. (sports biomechanics) in December of 2000 at Penn State. At Cincinnati, Hardyk - a team captain - competed in the long jump and the sprints for the Bearcats, qualifying for the NCAA Championships in the long jump his senior year. Harydyk was also a Great Midwest Conference Champion in the long jump and 4x100-meter relay. Post-collegiately, Hardyk competed at a national-class level in the long jump and the 100 meter dash. He competed in the 1994 and 1995 USA Track and Field Championships as well as the 1995 US Olympic Festival in the long jump. He also competed in the 100 meter dash at the 1997 and 1998 USA Track and Field Championships. Hardyk's wife, Angela, is a physician practicing in State College. The couple has two boys, Ethan, age five, and Spencer, who is three years old.
Awards and Honors
Outstanding Athletes Coached Ryan Fritz
Shawn Colligan
Chris Morrisey
Ryan Olkowski
James Cook
Steve Pina
John Gorham
George Audu
Brian Derby
Chavous Nichols
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