LSU track and field is a powerhouse program, though most of its premier athletes have been sprinters and jumpers.
But since the start of the 2008 season, the Tigers’ field team has seen rapid improvements from its throwing program thanks to the arrival of throwing coach Derek Yush.
Before 2008, the Tigers had only seen five athletes eclipse the 60-foot mark in the weight throw in their entire 110-year history.
In the last three full seasons, the Tigers have seen four new athletes break the 60-foot mark.
The Tiger throwers have also enjoyed two national championships in throwing events — both coming from senior Walter Henning last season — seven All-American performances and two Southeastern Conference Champions since that season.
Not even Henning, the stellar thrower who owns the school record in the weight throw by an absurd 8 feet and 1 1/2 inch, can claim all the success for himself.
The resurgence of the LSU throwing program has correlated with Derek Yush’s addition to the program.
Before Henning’s dominance last season, the Tigers hadn’t seen a national champion in a throwing event since 1991, when Simon Williams won the shot put title.
Conversely, before Samia Stokes was crowned the SEC champion in the discus last year, the Lady Tigers hadn’t seen an SEC champion in a throwing event — indoor or outdoor — since the 1994 season when Danyel Mitchell won the indoor shot put.
But Yush insists the program’s success has come from the
commitment to recruiting great athletes.
“It’s a statement to [LSU] coach [Dennis] Shaver allowing us to go out and get great athletes,” Yush said. I don’t think it has much to do with coaching.”
Stokes, who is in her second year under Yush’s tutelage, disagrees.
“He’s really broken down our technique,” Stokes said. “He’ll talk to us and have a heart-to-heart with us to get us mentally prepared for the meets.”
This season, two of the top four weight throw marks in the country belong to Henning and LSU junior Michael Lauro.
Perhaps Yush’s biggest contribution was his effort in getting Henning to come to LSU, but Yush downplayed his role in Henning’s arrival, as well.
“We got lucky,” Yush said.
Henning spent his freshman year at the University of North Carolina, winning the ACC championship in the weight throw and the hammer throw.
While Henning was successful in his one year at North Carolina, he felt he needed to go in another direction.
“Certainly, I have a little bit of a reputation from the coaching side, but the reality is he wanted to win as a team, not as a student
athlete,” Yush said.
Yush and Henning have combined to form a dominant force. Since the beginning of the 2010 indoor season Henning has gone 15-of-15 against collegiate
competition in meets in which he has participated.
 
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