T.J. Pierce returns for his eighth year as a member of the Nebraska track and field staff as the program’s director of operations. In addition to serving as the Husker meet director for all home competitions, his duties include team travel, scheduling of meets and office administration.

Pierce returned to his alma mater in 2005 after serving as the horizontal jumps and pole vault coach at Kent State for four years, where he coached four All-American athletes. Prior to joining Kent State, Pierce served one season as the sprint, hurdle, vertical jumps and multi-event coach at Central Florida, where his athletes set 11 school records and earned 12 all-conference honors during his only season in Orlando.

After completing his career as a Husker pole vaulter in 1997, Pierce spent three seasons as an assistant recruiting coordinator at NU. The Fairbury, Neb., native was responsible for the recruitment of several athletes, including 2003 NCAA pole vault champion Eric Eshbach.

A three-time academic All-Big Eight/12 selection, Pierce received his bachelor’s degree in mathematics education from Nebraska in 1996.