During his 20-year coaching career, Michael Bartolina has established himself as one of the premier jumps and combined event coaches in the nation.
Before joining the Southeastern coaching staff, Bartolina spent three years as National Equipment Manager for First to the Finish - the second largest track and field supply company in the United States.
Prior to his time in the private sector, Bartolina spent seven seasons coaching at the collegiate level – most recently as assistant track coach at McNeese State University. Before taking the job at McNeese, Bartolina served as head coach at Ranger Junior College (Texas) where he led the team to three top-three finishes in JUCO National Meets.
Bartolina began his college coaching career in 1992-93 at Southeastern where he served as a graduate assistant and coached current Southeastern head coach Sean Brady.
Since joining the Lions’ track program, Bartolina’s athletes have produced 13 regional performances, one national qualifying mark and an All-America honoree (Avery Sorapuru: 2006 Men’s Long Jump).
In total, Bartolina’s collegiate athletes have earned 19 All-Southland Conference awards, six Southland Conference championships, 13 NCAA Regional Championship berths, three NCAA National Championship berths, and one All-America award.
Bartolina is also one of the most sought after coaches in the professional track and field community, coaching at least one Olympian in the past three summer games and developing Estonian heptathlete Kristian Rahnu who claimed fourth place at the 2006 World Championships.
At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Bartolina was represented by male pole vaulter Jure Rovan of Slovenia as well as female pole vaulter Erica Bartolina of the United States.
Bartolina holds USA Track and Field Level II coaching certifications in the jumps and multi-events. After competing in the pole vault for the Oklahoma State track and field team, he completed both his BS and MA degrees at The University of Central Oklahoma.
