Oscar Duncan Named Assistant Track & Field Coach

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Eric Heins announced Tuesday that Oscar Duncan has joined the track and field staff at Northern Arizona. Duncan, who is replacing former coach Mohamad Saatara, will oversee the throws, pole vault and multi-event areas.

"I feel really excited to have someone like Oscar on staff," Heins said. "Throughout the interview process he showed us what a great person and coach he was. His enthusiasm and experiences fit in well with what his job here at NAU entails."

"I think he is going to bring a great amount of excitement to the event groups that he will be working with, and he will be able to relate well to the athletes," Heins said.

Duncan arrives in Flagstaff after spending four years at Division III Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, where he served as the throws, jumps, multi-events and sprints coach for both the men's and women's programs.

The Division I opportunity has Duncan energized for his future at NAU.

"My family and I are thoroughly excited to be able to come to Flagstaff and have this opportunity," Duncan said. "They have a great tradition here in this program and have been competitive every year within the Big Sky."

"We have a lot of great talent already here, and I want to keep recruiting some of the top talent in the country, as well as abroad," Duncan said. "I also want to continue guiding athletes to the national championship events."

In 2010, Duncan coached athletes to NCAA Division III qualifying marks in the women's long jump, triple jump, pentathlon, hurdles and men's javelin. Duncan's athletes also broke numerous school records from 2006-10 in the indoor and outdoor shot put, long jump, triple jump, hurdles and weight throw.

Before coaching at Bowdoin, Duncan worked at Boise State from 2002-06 where he served as the Athletics Academic Counselor, Tutorial Coordinator and as a university instructor.

Duncan also enjoyed success as a professional athlete, competing at the U.S. Track and Field Championships from 1999-2004. In 2002 and 2003, Duncan placed fourth and seventh, respectively, in the javelin at the U.S. Championships. Working towards the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Duncan finished sixth overall at the 2000 USA Olympic Trails. He won the 1999 bronze medal at the 1999 USA Track and Field National Championships, and was a member of the U.S. World Championships and Pan-American Games teams that same year.

In 1997, Duncan graduated from the University of Idaho with a bachelor's degree in sports science/corporate wellness. He obtained his master's of education in physical education in 2000.

Duncan put together an impressive student-athlete résumé while competing at Idaho. He was a three-time NCAA All-American, and two-time Big West Champion in the javelin. In 1996, Duncan broke the Big Sky javelin record with a throw of 238 feet, six inches, in route to an 11th-place finish at the outdoor championships.

A native of South Orange, N. J., Duncan is joined in Flagstaff by his wife, Nicole, and five daughters, Tañia, Aaliyah, Keeli, Jasmine and Celeste.