Eli Sunquist enters his second season as an assistant track and field coach at East Tennessee State University. Sunquist will continue to work with all the male and female field athletes, while emphasizing on the vertical and horizontal jumps as well as the multi-event athletes.

Sunquist brings an excellent track record to the Buccaneer program, both as a coach and an athlete. The Pittsburgh, Pa. native spent the past two years coaching the Charlotte 49ers, his alma mater, where he supervised all the male and female field event athletes. Under his watch, Sunquist qualified six horizontal jumpers to the NCAA Regional meet, and saw 10 of his athletes win Atlantic 10 conference crowns. The most notable athlete Sunquist assisted and trained was international triple jumper Allen Simms – who was ranked as high as 21st in the world.

In just his first season with the Bucs, he helped the jumpers and multi event athletes to four individual conference champions, two conference records, and 10 all conference performers.  Sunquist was also able to help Nic Chernikow break the school record in the heptathlon, and help Josh Cloyd win ETSU’s first men’s triple jump conference championship in the history of the program. In addition, he helped the men’s team win both the indoor and outdoor conference championship, having his jumpers contribute 57 points to the indoor campaign, and 44 points to the outdoor campaign.

“Not only has Eli had success in coaching track and field, but he was a top athlete while competing at Charlotte,” commented Dave Walker. “With his experiences and knowledge of the sport, he can really help our athletes reach the next level.”

During his time competing for the 49er track and field team, Sunquist built quite an impressive resume in the triple jump. He was a three-time NCAA Regional Qualifier, two-time Atlantic 10 Conference medalist, named all-conference twice in Conference USA, and won a pair of A-10 team championship rings in both the indoor and outdoor season. Sunquist also shined in the classroom, where he was named to the US Track & Field Coaches All-Academic Team and was also on the Dean’s List.

In May 2008, Sunquist received his Master of Arts Degree in Liberal Studies from Charlotte, where he conducted a thesis on U.S. women’s triple jump.

Sunquist is member of the National Pole Vault Coaches Association and United States Track & Field and Cross Country Association. He is also USATF level 1 certified, and Level II certified in the jumps.  He and his wife Tara, a former UNF volleyball standout, reside in Johnson City.