Michael Gusbeth is enters his fsixth season as an assistant coach of the track and field programs at the Colorado School of Mines during the 2020-21 academic year. Gusbeth’s main focus is with the throwers.
Under Gusbeth's guidance, the Oredigger throwers put together another solid year during the 2019-20 indoor season. Three individuals earned four all-conference nods including a gold medal for Arvid Veidmark IV in the shot put. Veidmark IV also took silver in the weight throw and took down the shot put record just prior to the RMAC Championships. Kathleen Tomon and Veidmark IV both provisionally qualified for the NCAA Championships. The overall season was shortened after the national meet and outdoor season were both canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thanks to Gusbeth's expertise, Mines' throwers found great success in the 2018-19 indoor and outdoor seasons. Gina Coleman claimed First-Team All-America honors in the indoor weight throw and outdoor discus. Coleman was also named the RMAC Women's Athlete of the Meet at the outdoor championships and RMAC Female Field Athlete of the Year for the Outdoor Season. In total, Gusbeth's throwing group claimed five RMAC gold medals between the indoor and outdoor seasons.
The 2017-18 season proved to be a banner year for Gusbeth's throwers - specifically Gina Coleman. Under Gusbeth's guidance, Coleman threw her way to First-Team All-America honors in the discus at the NCAA Outdoor Championships while also being named RMAC Outdoor Freshman of the Year. Coleman also took home gold in the discus at the RMAC Outdoor Championships. Gusbeth also guided Courtney Clark to NCAA Championship appearances in the indoor and outdoor seasons.
In his first three seasons at Mines, Gusbeth has had a number of success stories in the throwing events. In 2017, Courtney Clark set the program hammer throw record and was named USTFCCCA All-region in the event, while also becoming Mines' best women's shot putter in 30 years; Amanda Giles continued to put her school javelin record out of reach to earn all-RMAC honors. Jack Root was the RMAC bronze medalist in the hammer throw as a freshman in 2017.
Before coming to Mines, Gusbeth spent four seasons at Elon University (2011-14) under the same position. While with the NCAA Division I Phoenix he coached three individual Southern Conference Champions and six runner-up finishes. Gusbeth’s throwers re-wrote every single Elon throwing records.
Prior to Elon, Gusbeth saw many fine achievements from his throwers during his two years (2009-11) at Chadron State, highlighted in 2011 by a runner-up finish by Jessica Horsley in the women’s hammer throw at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships and an All-American finish by Cody Hunt in the shot put at the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships. He also had his throwers rewrite five school records.
No stranger to the RMAC, Gusbeth previously coached the Western State College of Colorado throwers during the 2008-09 season. That season, the Mountaineer throwers saw great success in achieving four NCAA D-II All-American honors. He coached the 2009 NCAA D-II Discus National Champion Ashley Stevens, who also earned All-American honors in the hammer throw and indoor weight throw during the 2008-09 campaign. Gusbeth also coached Ryan Walstrom to All-American honors in the men’s discus. Throughout the season, the Western State throwers rewrote school records in the women’s discus, hammer and weight throw, as well as the men’s discus.
Gusbeth, a former Western State track and field athlete, threw 213-feet, 8-inches in the hammer throw to set a Mountaineers’ record in 2006. He was an All-American in both the 35-pound weight and hammer throws, becoming the school’s first All-American in those events.
A native of Torquay, Australia, Gusbeth earned his bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Western State College of Colorado and a master’s degree in organizational management from Chadron State College. He and his wife, Tiffany, reside in Golden, Colo.
