The University of Akron Athletics
Akron Track and Field Announce New Members to Zips' Staff
September 24 | Track & Field
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AKRON, Ohio – University of Akron track and field head coach Dennis Mitchell has announced the hiring of Justin Ortego as the Zips' Director of Track and Field Operations. Additionally, Dominika Stokowska has returned to the program in a full-time capacity as an assistant coach.
The hiring of Ortego and Stokowska are pending approval by the University's Board of Trustees.
"It is an honor to be able to continue my career in athletics at the University of Akron under great coaches like Coach Mitchell and the rest of the staff," Ortego said. "Being able to learn how another successful program navigates throughout the year will allow me to see NCAA track and field from a new perspective. I'm looking forward to doing everything I can to keep this program moving in the right direction."
"Justin was taught by one of the best Director of Ops in the business in Andrea Tepe, who was at Akron and now at LSU," commented Mitchell. "He has already shown that he is up for one of the most difficult and most important positions on the staff."
Ortego comes to Akron after serving two years as a team manager at a perennial top-25 track and field program at LSU under head coach Dennis Shaver. He also worked directly with Andrea Tepe, the Tigers' Director of Track and Field Operations, who previously served in a similar capacity with Akron.
His primary responsibilities with LSU included; set-up and meet operations, along with day-to-day coordination of team needs with equipment and maintenance staffs as well as team travel preparation.
Ortego graduated from LSU in May 2019 with a bachelor's degree in accounting, while minoring in entrepreneurship.
"I am extremely happy to be back coaching full-time our very talented group of sprinters/hurdlers," Stokowska commented.
"We are so fortunate to have Domo back full time on the staff," said Mitchell. "She does an outstanding job and has made a big difference in our program before taking time off to have/and stay full-time with her son. She made an immediate needed impact as a volunteer coach in the spring when she stepped in to turn around our sprint/hurdle program, helping us win both men's and women's team championships."
Stokowska is in her 12th season working with the Zips track and field program, serving as Akron's assistant coach for hurdles, sprints and relays. She previously served as a volunteer assist coach from 2008-2011 before being promoted to full-time status in August of 2011 where she continued through the end of the 2017 campaign when she stepped away for the birth of her son. Stokowska returned on an interim basis this past spring, helping the Zips captured league titles in the men's 4x100 and 4x400 relays on the strength of season-best times. Individually, Dara Perry (Akron, Ohio), Patrick Kimball (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Noah Williams (Hilton, N.Y.) captured titles in the women's 100-meter hurdles, men's 110-meter hurdles and the men's 400 meters, respectively.
AKRON, Ohio – University of Akron track and field head coach Dennis Mitchell has announced the hiring of Justin Ortego as the Zips' Director of Track and Field Operations. Additionally, Dominika Stokowska has returned to the program in a full-time capacity as an assistant coach.
The hiring of Ortego and Stokowska are pending approval by the University's Board of Trustees.
"It is an honor to be able to continue my career in athletics at the University of Akron under great coaches like Coach Mitchell and the rest of the staff," Ortego said. "Being able to learn how another successful program navigates throughout the year will allow me to see NCAA track and field from a new perspective. I'm looking forward to doing everything I can to keep this program moving in the right direction."
"Justin was taught by one of the best Director of Ops in the business in Andrea Tepe, who was at Akron and now at LSU," commented Mitchell. "He has already shown that he is up for one of the most difficult and most important positions on the staff."
Ortego comes to Akron after serving two years as a team manager at a perennial top-25 track and field program at LSU under head coach Dennis Shaver. He also worked directly with Andrea Tepe, the Tigers' Director of Track and Field Operations, who previously served in a similar capacity with Akron.
His primary responsibilities with LSU included; set-up and meet operations, along with day-to-day coordination of team needs with equipment and maintenance staffs as well as team travel preparation.
Ortego graduated from LSU in May 2019 with a bachelor's degree in accounting, while minoring in entrepreneurship.
"I am extremely happy to be back coaching full-time our very talented group of sprinters/hurdlers," Stokowska commented.
"We are so fortunate to have Domo back full time on the staff," said Mitchell. "She does an outstanding job and has made a big difference in our program before taking time off to have/and stay full-time with her son. She made an immediate needed impact as a volunteer coach in the spring when she stepped in to turn around our sprint/hurdle program, helping us win both men's and women's team championships."
Stokowska is in her 12th season working with the Zips track and field program, serving as Akron's assistant coach for hurdles, sprints and relays. She previously served as a volunteer assist coach from 2008-2011 before being promoted to full-time status in August of 2011 where she continued through the end of the 2017 campaign when she stepped away for the birth of her son. Stokowska returned on an interim basis this past spring, helping the Zips captured league titles in the men's 4x100 and 4x400 relays on the strength of season-best times. Individually, Dara Perry (Akron, Ohio), Patrick Kimball (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Noah Williams (Hilton, N.Y.) captured titles in the women's 100-meter hurdles, men's 110-meter hurdles and the men's 400 meters, respectively.
Players Mentioned
Sprints/Hurdles
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Sprints
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