When it comes to elite-level throws coaching, Coach Erik Johnson stands in a league of his own. He’s not just any coach—he’s the only coach in the USA to have developed three high school shot putters to throw over 70 feet. Since 2015, his athletes have racked up hundreds of championships and medals at the national, state, district, and regional levels, and even produced Jr. Olympic and Olympic finalists. In his home state of Arizona, his shot putter Tyson Jones set a new state record with a massive throw of 71' 8 3/4"!
Coach Johnson is the go-to name for anyone serious about taking their throws to the next level.
But let's dig deeper into what makes Coach Johnson more than jut a winning coach. This guy has been living, breathing, and throwing for as long as he can remember.
"I'm Coach Erik Johnson, and my journey in track & field started when I was 10 years old. Back then, I was just a scrappy kid running at field day at Aire Libre Middle School in Phoenix, AZ. During a race, some kid pushed me down, and you know what? I got back up, ran faster, and won the race.
From that day on, I had one gear: FULL THROTTLE"
It wasn't long before Illene Molinski, a devoted fan of track and field & (. ) saw that same fire and introduced the young Erik to the Paradise Valley Athletic Track Club. From there, Erik dabbed in everything- relay, high jump, shot put- but it was throwing the discus that captured his heart.
By senior year of high school, Erik grew to 6'2", but was still as big as other athletes in his district. But that didn't stop him from hitting a solid 173' 2" in the discus and setting the school record without any coaching or strength program- little did he know how that was going to be the core of his future endevors!
After high school, Erik found himself at Mt SAC, a junior college powerhouse in Southern California. It was there that he got his first taste of serious training- Olympic Lifts, advanced throws techniques, and a whole new level of coaching. This set him up for the next big leap: UCLA. Under the guidance of coaching legend Art Vanegas, Erik's throwing career took off. Eventually, he finished his collegiate career at the University of Colorado, Boulder where he became an
- NCAA_All American
- US Championship competitor
- set a school record in the hammer
- and an Olympic Trials finalist - in the Discus in 1996
Fast forward a few years, Erik was married with 3 kids, but that fire to compete never left. In 2011, he decided to give it one more go- this time, at the World Masters Meet, where without any real training or strength program, just a curiosity to see what the ol' dog had in him- he took home the bronze medal.
Well, the ol' dog still had some magic.
As fun as the World Masters Meet was, Erik knew there was another calling for him in world of throwing and he turned all his attention to youth and developing athletes.
This was when the spark to start a movement to ignite track and field throwing events began....
Now Erik's on the other side of the throwing cage as a coach, and he's having the time of his life. He doesn't just coach athletes; he transforms them.
" I love this sport. I love the grind. And every season brings new challenges- whether it's a high school athlete trying to land a scholarship, an elite pro eyeing the Olympics, or a coach hungry to dominate their district.
My mission is simple: to build champions. "
The Physics, the biomechanics, and the technique that separates the good from the great!
Erik's passion for the sport runs deep, and he's spent decades refining his methods, not just in the ring but also in collaboration with the best in the world, including Olympic champions and top NCAA Coaches.
Whether you're an athlete looking to take your shot ut aor discus fame to the next level, or a coach striving to be the best, Coach Johnson has the blueprint.
He's been there, done that, and now he's ready to take you where your athletic dreams are.
Let's get to work- that's Arete Strong!