State College, Pa.; Sept. 29, 1999 -- Tonya Marie Lee has joined the Penn State coaching staff as an assistant in women's track.

She'll work with new coach Beth Alford-Sullivan.

Lee is a 1993 graduate of Tennessee where she was a four-time All-American and three-time SEC champion. Lee remained at Tennessee as a volunteer coach in 1994 placing seventh in the 400 meter hurdles at the USA Track and Field Championships in Knoxville. She also finished seventh at the World Cup Meet in London. In 1995, Lee was named an assistant coach at Tennessee. She was a member of the U.S. team that competed against Great Britain and was ranked seventh nationally in the 400 meter hurdles. Lee moved to Kent State in 1996 to work with the men's and women's teams as the jumps and hurdles coach. She coached two NCAA qualifiers in the high jump and 400 meter hurdles and three Mid-American Conference champions.

Lee was a U.S. Olympic Trials finalist in the 400 meter hurdles in 1996 in Atlanta.