Arkansas Track and Field Coach Recalls Racehorses and Donkeys Advice From Coaching Legend John McDonnell

Amid Olympic jingles, the collegiate athletic grounds are also aflame with blazing performances. The Arkansas men’s and women’s track and field has etched stunning scores in the annals of history. The 2024 SEC Indoor Track and Field Championships has seen both the Arkansas teams covered in gold with the most coveted titles. Going against the Florida Gators, the women’s team put up an exceptional performance, thus finishing 131 ahead of them. But can we overlook the man behind this success?

Chris Johnson, functioning as the head coach of the Arkansas women’s team since 2023 July, has been associated with the Razorbacks for 14 seasons. 5x National Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year title holder has trained only championships during his tenure. But the man with such skills has another man guiding him.

Track and field coach Johnson reveals some mantras by John McDonnell

Arkansas Track and Field’s X handle posted an episode fragment of Hogs Plus. Johnson sat with the host to reminisce about some useful advice from his guide, coaching legend John McDonnell. “Racehorses are in this pasture and donkeys are in this pasture. And they don’t mix”, Johnson quoted his older track and field counterpart. “So, the best advice he gave me is to make sure that you keep those separate for lack of a better term. Hold those ones accountable and let them know what accountability looks like”. 

Moving on, he also drew a line between treating everyone like equals and treating everyone the same way. “If you’re elite, you hold them to that elite status”, he continued, which asserted that it’s a practice he resorts to in his daily life. Having anchored several athletic boats, Chris Johnson earned the NWCY trophy twice in 2023. Let’s go through some of his latest highlights.

Chris Johnson’s head Coach career

With 15 region coaching honors under his belt, Johnson has outpaced the coaches of other track and field collegiate teams. In 2023, under his tutelage, the athletes secured the 4 x 400m relay indoor world record, followed by Britton Wilson’s American and collegiate indoor records in 400m and 600m. Earlier this month, when Arkansas secured its 10th SEC title, honors got included in the coaches’ purses as well.

In his first year as head coach, Chris Johnson received the SEC Indoor Coach of the Year honor by votes from his peers. But he had only praise for the women’s team, who made him what he is today. “These young ladies put in a lot of work, effort and time with sweat and tears in this. So, I’m elated and I’m happy”. 

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