Ty Sevin, a native of Louisiana and graduate of Texas A&M where he was a conference champion javelin thrower, is regarded as one of the top young track coaches in the nation.

He's now in his second full season as the McNeese track and field coach, having taken over in the spring of 2005 for Russ Buller, who returned to fulltime competition as a nationally ranked pole vaulter.

Sevin, who was born in Cutoff, LA and graduated from Berwick High School, served in 2004 as an assistant coach at Michigan State and prior to that had been an assistant at Texas A&M and at Oklahoma State and had also been a sports consultant at the U.S. Olympic training center.

After graduating from Texas A&M in 1994, Sevin continued as an active javelin thrower, being named to two U.S. national teams and competing in the 1996, 2000 and 2004 U. S. Olympic trials.

During his coaching career, the 36 year old coach has guided numerous athletes to all-American and all-conference honors, has coached seven, 18 foot pole vaulters, has led athletes to Southland, Big 12 and Big 10 league titles and had one athlete - Paul Terek - earn a spot on the U.S. Olympic team.

As an athlete, Sevin was a baseball, football (all-state), basketball and track and field letterman at Berwick High, playing baseball under former Cowboy standout Lud Henry. He went on to letter in track and football at LSU and then transferred to Texas A&M where he was a two-time all-American and conference javelin champion and school record holder.

His best javelin throw in college was 248-10 and his best career javelin throw was 263, which ranks as the 11th all-time best in U.S. history.

With Sevin's guidance, the Cowboys are expected to make a run at the Southland Conference title and at a national ranking this year.

He is considered one of the top pole vault coaches in the nation and will have two 18 foot vaulters - Brad Gebauer and Jimmie Heath - on this year's squad.