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Michael Giesler returns for his second season as Illinois' field events coach. In his first season, Giesler coached senior Pete Knaus to the school record in the 35 lb. weight throw, breaking a record that stood for 21 years. In addition he developed Knaus, who had never competed in a decathlon, into a scorer in the event at the Big Ten Championships.
Under Giesler's tutelage, Kurt Glesne (indoor weight throw and shot put) and Nick Byrnes (hammer throw) set career-best marks in their respective events.
Giesler joined the Fighting Illini staff after three seasons at the University of Northern Iowa where he was the Field Event Coordinator for the men's and women's track and field programs. Giesler also recruited student-athletes to be part of a team ranked as high as sixth nationally in the NCAA Division I dual rankings.
While at Northern Iowa, Giesler coached one All-American, two school record holders, six Missouri Valley Conference championship teams, two conference individual champions, four Midwest Regional qualifiers and 14 all-conference selections.
Prior to working at Northern Iowa, Giesler served as the head men's and women's track and cross country coach at the University of Tennessee-Martin for four seasons. In his time there, Giesler coached five individual Ohio Valley Conference champions and 15 all-conference athletes.
Giesler's coaching career began at Southern Illinois University where he was the field events coordinator from 1990-1996. Under his guidance, the Salukis boasted two high jump Olympians, five All-Americans, two school record holders, one Missouri Valley Conference record holder, 12 conference individual champions, 25 all-conference performers and nine conference championship teams.
Giesler earned a B.S. in 1989 from Eastern Illinois University where as an athlete he earned five conference titles while competing as a javelin thrower and decathlete.
