When it was announced that one of the most decorated American javelin throwers of the last 20 years was joining the

Valparaiso University track and field coaching staff, it likely came as a surprise to many, including those within the program.

Predictably, no one with the school is complaining about the good-fortune hire.

For much of the 1990s, Tom Pukstys was at the top of his field in this country.

A six-time U.S. champion, Pukstys was the No. 1 ranked American javelin thrower seven times and twice competed at the Olympics, placing 10th at the 1992 Barcelona games and 8th at the 1996 games in Atlanta.

When his competitive career ended, Pukstys eased right into coaching, primarily working as an instructor at the Bo Jackson Sports Dome in Lockport, Ill., where he estimates he worked with up to 15,000 athletes in various sports.This experience also helped give him another opportunity to return to the Olympics, where he served as the throws coach for the American track and field team at the 2012 London games.

After leaving Sports Dome in 2013, Pukstys’ attempt to begin a new phase in life was derailed, when construction plans for an athletic training facility – a complex he was to be an executive director of – were cancelled after legal issues befell one of the men spearheading the project.

Forced to start over, Pukstys said he needed to strongly reevaluate what it would take for him to reach his professional goals. Though comfortable with his skills and experience level, he acknowledged more education was needed, saying, “Not having a master’s degree was definitely a hurdle.”

To clear that obstacle, he applied and was eventually accepted to Valpo, where he began his studies in Sports Administration in the fall.

While admitting it was an adjustment returning to the classroom at age 46, making an abrupt change was nothing new to Pukstys.

“I’ve seemingly lived two lives, and now I’m working on a third,” he said.

Though his reasons for coming to Valpo were purely academic, when someone with Pukstys’ credentials comes to a smaller university, word of his presence is likely to get around, and Crusader coaches were naturally excited to discover that a former Olympian was in their midst.

Luckily, it didn’t take much convincing to bring him on board.Following discussions with Juan Dileo, an accomplished javelin thrower and friend to many on the Valpo staff, Pukstys was put in contact with head coach Ryan Moore, who was anything but hesitant to bring him along.

“He’d expressed interest and I was like ‘Yeah, come on,’” Moore enthusiastically said about the hire.

“It’s hard to turn away that sort of (opportunity).”

The excitement carried over to the athletes as well. Senior Jeremy Getz, who holds the program’s javelin record throw of 208 feet, 3 inches, said he was “elated” to work with such a prestigious figure and that thus far, the experience has not been disappointing.

“When I heard that he would potentially be coaching us, I was super, super excited,” Getz said.

“And it’s been awesome so far. He has a terrific wealth of knowledge.

”While happy to return to coaching, Pukstys likely isn’t back to stay. Hoping to parlay his class work into a management position – “be it for a facility or entity” – he admits he would one day like to hold a position that allows him to “get away from just being in the trenches of coaching.

”But as he works on fulfilling his grander ambitions, the newest Valpo assistant isn’t regretting his decision to return to the coaching ranks for what may be the final time.

Pukstys, who is currently in line to finish his degree next December but may look to stay longer so as to not depart the team midseason, says his time in Valpo has thus far been great.

And with a talented, tight-knit group to work with, he is optimistic his expertise will be of significant benefit for a team hoping to reach new heights this season.

“I can offer some good insights and I enjoy (being a coach),” Pukstys said.

“Luckily, I have an experience that tends to help quite a lot of people. I have a huge love for coaching and it comes naturally for me to be helpful.”

source:Clay Cunningham - The torch