Bubba Thornton

Bubba Thornton (born March 9, 1947) is an American retired track and field coach. He coached Texas Christian University (TCU) from 1982 to 1995 and served as the Texas Longhorns men's track and field coach at the University of Texas at Austin from 1996 to 2013. He is also the former head coach for the USA Track & Field team, whom he coached for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics.

College career Thornton graduated from TCU in 1969 with a bachelor's degree in physical education. He participated in varsity football and track and field.

Professional career After graduating, he was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the 14th round of the 1969 American Football League draft and started as a rookie wide receiver. AFL career statistics Year Team Games Receiving Rushing 1969 BUF 14 6 14 134 9.6 21 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 Career 14 6 14 134 9.6 21 0 0 0 0.0 0 0

Coaching career He began his coaching career at Keller High School where he served as the athletics director and head football coach from 1977 to 1981.

In 1982, he became head coach of track and field at TCUhttp://www.dailytexanonline.com/sports/2013/06/26/mens-track-and-field-head-coach-bubba-thornton-retires Men's Track and Field Head Coach Bubba Thornton retires | The Daily Texan where he coached 72 NCAA All-Americans and his men's team had five NCAA Top 10 finishes (1983, '87, '88, '89 and '91) and 11 Top 20 finishes. He also coached the TCU team to 39 major relay titles, including five NCAA 400-meter relay championships (1986, '87, '89, '91 and '95) and the 1983 1,600-meter relay national title.

In 1996, Thornton was hired as the head coach for the men's track and field team at Texas. In 17 seasons, his team finished in the top 15 at the NCAA Outdoor Championships 13 times, including finishing in the top five four times. He coached the UT team to 19 top 10 NCAA finishes and 11 Big 12 conference titles (six indoor, five outdoor) and 1 Southwest Conference outdoor title.

Thornton also served as a coach in the following capacities: Head coach USA, Men's Track and Field Team, USA Track & Field – 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Gameshttp://www.flotrack.org/article/21168-Coach-Bubba-Thornton-to-retire-after-18-years-at-Texas#.UvjaILRMxUo Coach Bubba Thornton to retire after 18 years at Texas – Flotrack Head coach USA, World Outdoor Men's Track and Field, USA Track & Field – 2003 World Championships in Athletics Assistant coach USA, Men's Track and Field Team, USA Track & Field – 2000 Sydney Summer Olympics Head coach USA – 1996 World Junior Championships in Athletics

Thornton retired in 2013.http://www.texassports.com/news/2013/6/17/061713aaa_317.aspx Texas Longhorns Athletics - Men's Track and Field head coach Thornton to retire He was inducted into the Texas Track and Field Coaches Hall of Fame, Class of 2015. School Season Indoor Outdoor UT 2013 T-23rd 6th UT 2012 7th T-9th UT 2011 10th T-12th UT 2010 T-60th T-17th UT 2009 10th 20th UT 2008 3rd 4th UT 2007 3rd 14th UT 2006 4th 3rd UT 2005 70th 8th UT 2004 4th T-23rd UT 2003 T-9th T-21st UT 2002 T-23rd T-9th UT 2001 T-14th T-15th UT 2000 14th 14th UT 1999 5th T-6th UT 1998 T-24th T-47th UT 1997 T-15th 2nd UT 1996 T-14th 5th TCU 1995 12th TCU 1994 29th TCU 1993 T-34th TCU 1992 22nd TCU 1991 9th TCU 1989 20th TCU 1988 8th TCU 1987 8th TCU 1986 3rd TCU 1985 12th TCU 1984 15th TCU 1983 10th

Post-playing honors Thornton was inducted into the Navarro Bulldogs Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame. Thornton was additionally inducted into the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Coaches Hall of Fame in Orlando, Florida.

Bubba Thornton

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