Sean Denard enters his sixth season as an assistant coach at UCLA in 2026-27.
Through five seasons with the Bruins, Denard's athletes have accrued 50 entries over 10 events at NCAA Championship meets, and have scored 169 points at conference championships, including 14 medals and four school records.
Over the course of his career, Denard has helped his athletes finish top-10 at the NCAA Championships on 57 occasions, with 84 medalists (top-three finish) at league championships.
In 2026, men's throwers led UCLA in scoring at the NCAA Championships for the second season in a row. Michael Pinckney earned silver at the Indoor Big Ten Championships and was an Indoor All-American after breaking his own school record in the men's weight throw on three occasions. Xaver Hastenrath was a standout for the Bruins during outdoor season, becoming the first UCLA thrower to earn First Team Outdoor All-America honors in the shot put since 2016.
In 2025, Denard's throwers led the team in scoring for the second year in a row at the conference championships. Pinckney became UCLA's first-ever Big Ten Champion after taking home gold in the discus at Outdoor B1Gs, going on to earn First Team All-America honors at NCAAs. Jana Van Schalkwyk also earned silver in the women's javelin at B1Gs, later securing First Team All-America honors and a bronze medal at the FISU World University Games.
In 2024, UCLA throwers put up 60 points at the Pac-12 Championships, securing six medals (one gold, two silver, three bronze). That group went on to earn six All-America honors, led by Mayyi Mahama's First Team finish in the hammer. Also that season, Kris Emig set the school record in the men's hammer during the Pac-12 Championships, earning the first of two bronze medals in his career.
In 2023, UCLA throwers broke two school records, led by Federica Botter who claimed a Pac-12 gold medal and First Team All-America honors in the women's javelin. Michael Pinckney won the u20 championship in the men's hammer, and also finished second in the shot put. He went on to win silver at the u20 PANAM Championships in the shot put. Pinckney also set the school record in the weight throw during indoor season.
In 2022, Jacob Wilson led the throwers with a silver medal performance at Pac-12s in the shot put. Freshman Jill Stanford went on to finish second at the USA u20 Championships in the women's hammer, qualifying for the u20 World Championships that season.
Prior to his arrival in Westwood, Denard made coaching stops at CSUN (2019-21), Grand Valley State University (2014-19) and North Central College (2012-14).
In addition to his duties at UCLA, Denard serves on the USATF Executive Committees for Education and Development, and he has also served as a Team USA National Coach, where he has helped bring home 30 medals at the international level. Denard presents regularly at national conventions and is also an instructor for multiple certification programs.
Denard earned a Master's Degree from UCLA in 2023, and was an NCAA Champion and All-American for both the football and track & field teams at Mount Union College.
Notable UCLA Athletes Coached by Denard
Through five seasons with the Bruins, Denard's athletes have accrued 50 entries over 10 events at NCAA Championship meets, and have scored 169 points at conference championships, including 14 medals and four school records.
Over the course of his career, Denard has helped his athletes finish top-10 at the NCAA Championships on 57 occasions, with 84 medalists (top-three finish) at league championships.
In 2026, men's throwers led UCLA in scoring at the NCAA Championships for the second season in a row. Michael Pinckney earned silver at the Indoor Big Ten Championships and was an Indoor All-American after breaking his own school record in the men's weight throw on three occasions. Xaver Hastenrath was a standout for the Bruins during outdoor season, becoming the first UCLA thrower to earn First Team Outdoor All-America honors in the shot put since 2016.
In 2025, Denard's throwers led the team in scoring for the second year in a row at the conference championships. Pinckney became UCLA's first-ever Big Ten Champion after taking home gold in the discus at Outdoor B1Gs, going on to earn First Team All-America honors at NCAAs. Jana Van Schalkwyk also earned silver in the women's javelin at B1Gs, later securing First Team All-America honors and a bronze medal at the FISU World University Games.
In 2024, UCLA throwers put up 60 points at the Pac-12 Championships, securing six medals (one gold, two silver, three bronze). That group went on to earn six All-America honors, led by Mayyi Mahama's First Team finish in the hammer. Also that season, Kris Emig set the school record in the men's hammer during the Pac-12 Championships, earning the first of two bronze medals in his career.
In 2023, UCLA throwers broke two school records, led by Federica Botter who claimed a Pac-12 gold medal and First Team All-America honors in the women's javelin. Michael Pinckney won the u20 championship in the men's hammer, and also finished second in the shot put. He went on to win silver at the u20 PANAM Championships in the shot put. Pinckney also set the school record in the weight throw during indoor season.
In 2022, Jacob Wilson led the throwers with a silver medal performance at Pac-12s in the shot put. Freshman Jill Stanford went on to finish second at the USA u20 Championships in the women's hammer, qualifying for the u20 World Championships that season.
Prior to his arrival in Westwood, Denard made coaching stops at CSUN (2019-21), Grand Valley State University (2014-19) and North Central College (2012-14).
In addition to his duties at UCLA, Denard serves on the USATF Executive Committees for Education and Development, and he has also served as a Team USA National Coach, where he has helped bring home 30 medals at the international level. Denard presents regularly at national conventions and is also an instructor for multiple certification programs.
Denard earned a Master's Degree from UCLA in 2023, and was an NCAA Champion and All-American for both the football and track & field teams at Mount Union College.
Notable UCLA Athletes Coached by Denard
- Michael Pinckney – 3x All-American, B1G Champion, Pac-12 runner-up, B1G runner-up, USA U20 Champion, USA U20 runner up, PANAM U20 runner up, school record holder
- Mayyi Mahama – 2x All-American, Pac-12 runner up, Pac-12 bronze medalist
- Federica Botter – 2x All-American, 2x Pac-12 Champion, school record holder
- Jana Van Schalkwyk – First-Team All-American, B1G runner-up, FISU Bronze medalist
- Xaver Hastenrath – First-Team All-American
- Lyvante Su’emai – 2x All-American, Pac-12 bronze medalist
- Kris Emig – All-American, Pac-12/B1G bronze medalist, school record holder
- Aiden Elbettar – All-American
- Jacob Wilson – PAC12 runner-up
- Lea Reidel – Pac-12 bronze medalist
- Jill Stafford – USA U20 runner-up