Team Staff

Bubba Thornton - Head Coach

One of the sport's most respected coaches, Thornton leads Team USA's dominant men's team in Paris. Heading into his eighth season at Texas in 2002-2003, Thornton had led the Longhorns to three top-five NCAA finishes (one indoor/two outdoor) and four Big 12 conference titles (one indoor/three outdoor) while producing nine NCAA individual champions and 59 All-America honors.

Thornton came to Texas following a 14-year run as head coach of Texas Christian University's men's and women's track and field programs, where he was renowned for producing some of the most talented sprint and relay teams in the country. Thornton recruited and developed 72 NCAA All-Americans and guided the men's squad to five NCAA top-10 finishes (1983-87-88-89-91) and 11 top-20 finishes. He coached the Horned Frogs to 39 major relays titles, including five NCAA 400-meter relay championships (1986-87-89-91-95) and the 1983 1,600-meter relay national title.

Thornton is no stranger to international teams. He was an assistant coach for Team USA staff at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, where he oversaw the men's 400m (gold, silver), 400m hurdles (gold) and 4x400m relay (gold). He also served as head coach for Team USA's men at the 1996 World Junior Championships. He is a 1969 graduate of Texas Christian University, where he played football and ran track from 1967-69.