Two-Time Olympian Maric Named Assistant Track and Field Coach

Two-Time Olympian Maric Named Assistant Track and Field Coach
Croatian Olympian will coach throws for Virginia

Sept. 26, 2012

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.—Two-time Olympian Martin Maric has been named an assistant track and field coach, Virginia’s director of track and field/cross country Bryan Fetzer announced Wednesday (Sept. 26). Maric will work primarily as the Cavaliers’ throws coach.

“Martin will be a tremendous asset to our program with his incredible athletic experience, international connections and his ability to teach the technical aspects of the throwing events,” Fetzer said. “As we move forward in building a championship program, to have an individual that can say ‘this is what my personal experience was as an Olympian or NCAA Champion’ is priceless. Since those are some of our goals we have for our student-athletes, what better than having a coach on the staff that has that knowledge."

Maric competed in the discus at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and the 2012 Games in London for his home country of Croatia. He finished 29th in 2008 before placing 17th this past summer. He also represented Croatia at the 2011 World Championships in Dague, South Korea, and at the 2007 and 2009 World University Games.

"I am very excited and honored to work with such a great staff as we pursue excellence here at the University of Virginia,” Maric said. “I’ve known Bryan Fetzer a long time and I look forward in assisting him and the rest of the staff members in turning our athletes into national championship-caliber athletes, and ultimately winning championships.”

At the University of California, Maric was the NCAA Champion in the discus in 2009, as well as an All-American in the discus in 2008 and the javelin in 2007.

“One of my goals will be to continue the tradition that the best athletes from Virginia stay in the state and continue their education and sports career at UVa,” Maric said. “We have a staff that has experienced coaching athletes at the highest levels. I am sure we will be able to attract the best athletes all over the United States, as well as high-ranking international athletes."

Maric spent the springs of 2010 and 2011 as a volunteer assistant coach at the University of Florida and served as an assistant coach at the ASK Split Athletic Club in his native Split, Croatia.

Maric graduated from California with a bachelor’s degree in political economy of industrial societies in 2009.

Courtesy Virginia