Team Staff

John McDonnell - Assistant Coach, Middle Distance

McDonnell's Arkansas teams have won more national championships, triple crowns and conference titles than any other team in any sport in history. Under McDonnell, the Razorbacks have won 38 national championships - including 17 in outdoor track, 10 outdoors and 11 cross country - and five triple crowns (cross country, indoor and outdoor track in the same school year). The Hogs' cross country coach since 1972, McDonnell took over as head track coach in 1977-'78, winning his first national title in 1984. His resume also includes 71 conference titles and 18 conference triple crowns. McDonnell has been national Coach of the Year 11 times in indoor track, nine times outdoors and six times in cross country for a total of 26 awards.

Born in County Mayo, Ireland, he came to the United States in 1964 to work as a television cameraman in New York City. He then accepted a scholarship offer to run track at Southwestern Louisiana, where he was a six-time All-American. McDonnell was granted U.S. citizenship in 1969, the same year he graduated from USL.