Steve Lemke
• First season at Virginia
Lemke joined the Cavalier program in August of 2022 after spending his previous 15 seasons in coaching at Florida as the associate head coach for throws. During his time in Gainesville, Lemke led the Gator throwers to the top of not only the SEC, but to the upper tier of NCAA Division I.
In his first season with the Virginia throwers, Lemke guided Jacob Lemmon and John Fay to impressive improvement in the weight throw. Lemmon, an All-American discus thrower, climbed all the way to second on the Virginia all-time list in one season under Lemke culminating with a personal-best of 22.18 meters (72’9.25″) at the ACC Championships where he won silver. Fay, who also saw significant improvement over the season, also hit his peak at the ACC Championships throwing three consecutive personal bests and rising to No. 4 on the Virginia all-time list and setting a UVA freshman record with a throw of 20.72 meters (67’11.75). Fay placed seventh at the ACC Championships. Lemmon’s season-best was good enough to qualify for the NCAA Championships, but an injury prevented his participation in the competition.
Over the course of his tenure at Florida, which began in 2006, the Gator women won seven individual NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships in throwing events – the third most by any Division I program in that span. Florida’s five indoor and outdoor national shot put titles were tied for the national lead during his tenure with the team as well.
Lemke’s track record at national meets speaks for itself. Aside from just developing national champions, his athletes at Florida consistently scored at national meets helping the program to nine national titles on the men’s side and numerous top-five finishes on the women’s side. In all, Lemke coached a total of 50 Florida men and women to score at the NCAA Championships, a number that ranks second among Division I coaches in that span. Under his tutelage, a total of 70 Gators earned USTFCCCA All-America honors in throwing events.
At the conference level, Lemke led his men and women to 35 indoor and outdoor SEC titles in the throwing events – five more than any other SEC program over that period.
In addition to his time at Florida (2006-2021), he has also coached at Arizona State (1994-96), UTEP (1990-93), Yale (1987-89) and served as a graduate assistant coach at Southeast Missouri State (1985-86).
Lemke also has experience at the international level as he served as the head coach and National Throws Coordinator at the Queensland Academy of Sport in Australia (2002-04), the head coach and National Throws Coordinator at the Western Australia Institute of Sport (1998-99, 2001-02) and the National Senior and Junior Throws coach for Norway (1996-98).
Lemke by the Numbers
- 11 seasons as Florida’s Associate Head Coach
- 9-time NCAA Division I National Champion
- 11-time SEC Champion
- 13 Individual Men’s and Women’s National Championships
- 35 Individual Men’s and Women’s SEC Championships
- 50 Men’s and Women’s NCAA Championships Scorers at Florida
- 70 Men’s and Women’s USTFCCCA All-America Honors at Florida
- 7 University of Florida School Records Broken
- 15 Olympics Appearances
- 2 IAAF World Championships Medalists
- 2000 Olympic gold medalist (Nick Hysong, Arizona State)
Coaching History
- Florida – Associate Men’s and Women’s Head Coach – Throws (2010-Present)
- Florida – Assistant Men’s and Women’s Coach – Throws (2008-2009)
- Florida – Assistant Women’s Coach – Throws (2006-07)
- Queensland (Australia) Academy of Sport – Head Coach; National Throws Coordinator (2002-04)
- Western Australia Institute of Sport – Head Coach; National Throws Coordinator (1998-99, 2001-02)
- Norway – National Senior and Junior Throws Coach (1996-98)
- Arizona State University – Field Events Coach (1994-96)
- University of Texas El Paso – Field Events Coach (1990-93)
- Yale University – Field Events Coach (1987-89)
- Southeast Missouri State – Graduate Assistant Coach (1985-86)
- Washburn (Mo.) High School – Head Boys and Girls Coach (1983-85)