University of Georgia Athletics
Photo by: John Kelley/Mandatory Credit
Don Babbitt To Remain On Georgia’s Track & Field Staff
June 17, 2021 | Track & Field
ATHENS, Ga. --- Longtime Bulldog throws coach Don Babbitt will remain on Georgia's staff, according to new Director of Men's and Women's Track & Field Caryl Smith Gilbert.
Babbitt, a native of Los Angeles, has been named the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Assistant Coach of the Year and is a two-time Region Coach of the Year during his 25-year tenure with the Bulldogs. He has guided Georgia throwers to 30 NCAA individual titles and 140 All-America certificates and led scores of current and former Bulldogs to international success at the Olympic Games and World Championships over his career.
"My intention is to put together a staff that will represent the University of Georgia in the best way and help our student-athletes reach their peak performances, and I believe Don Babbitt checks both of those boxes," said Smith Gilbert. "While he is a fellow UCLA graduate, Don has been a Bulldog 25 years and has proven by his numerous career accomplishments that he truly is one of the best throws coaches in our sport. I look forward to working alongside him very soon!"
The Bulldog men captured the 2018 NCAA outdoor team championship to complement the Georgia women's national team title indoors that year. During that outdoor run, Babbitt instructed Denzel Comenentia as the native of the Netherlands won both the hammer throw and the shot put at NCAAs to score 20 of the Bulldogs' winning effort of 52 points.
Most recently, Babbitt advanced both first-year Bulldog Alencar Pereira to the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the hammer and senior Marie-Therese Obst in the javelin. Obst captured the 2021 SEC title as well as this year's national championship in the javelin and recently graduated with a degree in Criminal Justice.
Results and recaps from the coming Trials and other future meets will be found at georgiadogs.com. News and updates from Georgia's track and field and cross country teams are always located on Twitter/Instagram at @UGATrack.
Babbitt, a native of Los Angeles, has been named the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Assistant Coach of the Year and is a two-time Region Coach of the Year during his 25-year tenure with the Bulldogs. He has guided Georgia throwers to 30 NCAA individual titles and 140 All-America certificates and led scores of current and former Bulldogs to international success at the Olympic Games and World Championships over his career.
"My intention is to put together a staff that will represent the University of Georgia in the best way and help our student-athletes reach their peak performances, and I believe Don Babbitt checks both of those boxes," said Smith Gilbert. "While he is a fellow UCLA graduate, Don has been a Bulldog 25 years and has proven by his numerous career accomplishments that he truly is one of the best throws coaches in our sport. I look forward to working alongside him very soon!"
The Bulldog men captured the 2018 NCAA outdoor team championship to complement the Georgia women's national team title indoors that year. During that outdoor run, Babbitt instructed Denzel Comenentia as the native of the Netherlands won both the hammer throw and the shot put at NCAAs to score 20 of the Bulldogs' winning effort of 52 points.
Most recently, Babbitt advanced both first-year Bulldog Alencar Pereira to the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the hammer and senior Marie-Therese Obst in the javelin. Obst captured the 2021 SEC title as well as this year's national championship in the javelin and recently graduated with a degree in Criminal Justice.
Results and recaps from the coming Trials and other future meets will be found at georgiadogs.com. News and updates from Georgia's track and field and cross country teams are always located on Twitter/Instagram at @UGATrack.
Players Mentioned
Javelin
/ Track & Field
Throws
/ Track & FieldGeorgia Track & Field Outdoor National Championships Video Recap
Monday, June 16
Georgia Track & Field Outdoor NCAAs Day 2 Recap
Friday, June 13
Georgia Track & Field Feature: Throwers Profile
Monday, June 09
Georgia Track & Field Outdoor SEC Championships Day 3 Video Recap
Monday, May 19