Falcons Add Ryan Hershberger to Track & Field Coaching Staff
9/23/2026 1:22:00 PM | Track and Field
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. – Air Force Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Ryan Cole announced the recent hiring of Ryan Hershberger as an assistant coach for the Falcons' program. Hershberger, who captured All-American honors as a collegiate thrower at Kansas State University, will oversee Air Force's rotational throws.
"We're very excited to add Coach Ryan Hershberger to our staff and have him work with our rotational throws," Cole said. "Coach Hershberger not only has successful Division I experience with both genders in multiple throwing disciplines, but he has a proven track (& field!) record getting elite results while working within service academy-dynamics and the parameters we have at USAFA. I'm looking forward to Coach Hershberger contributing to our staff and program, as we recruit, develop and succeed with cadet-athlete who are highly effective in a career of service and build their foundation for life after athletics."
Hershberger joins the Academy after coaching stints at Purdue, Army West Point, and UNC Charlotte. Across those programs, athletes coached by Hershberger earned 27 conference titles, 32 NCAA preliminary round berths, and four appearances at the NCAA Championships. He also coached two U.S. Olympic Team Trials qualifiers and one USATF U20 champion, who represented Team USA at the 2022 World U20 Championships in Colombia.
A native of Clay Center, Kan., Hershberger graduated with degrees in mathematics and computer science from Kansas State University, where he was an All-Big 12 and NCAA All-American shot putter, with a lifetime best of 19.29 meters (63'3"). He holds USATF Level III coaching certification in the throws, and is certified as a strength and conditioning specialist (CSC) by the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
"We're very excited to add Coach Ryan Hershberger to our staff and have him work with our rotational throws," Cole said. "Coach Hershberger not only has successful Division I experience with both genders in multiple throwing disciplines, but he has a proven track (& field!) record getting elite results while working within service academy-dynamics and the parameters we have at USAFA. I'm looking forward to Coach Hershberger contributing to our staff and program, as we recruit, develop and succeed with cadet-athlete who are highly effective in a career of service and build their foundation for life after athletics."
Hershberger joins the Academy after coaching stints at Purdue, Army West Point, and UNC Charlotte. Across those programs, athletes coached by Hershberger earned 27 conference titles, 32 NCAA preliminary round berths, and four appearances at the NCAA Championships. He also coached two U.S. Olympic Team Trials qualifiers and one USATF U20 champion, who represented Team USA at the 2022 World U20 Championships in Colombia.
A native of Clay Center, Kan., Hershberger graduated with degrees in mathematics and computer science from Kansas State University, where he was an All-Big 12 and NCAA All-American shot putter, with a lifetime best of 19.29 meters (63'3"). He holds USATF Level III coaching certification in the throws, and is certified as a strength and conditioning specialist (CSC) by the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
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