Towson University Athletics

Towson University women's track & field welcomed Lonnie Pugh to the team ahead of the 2021-22 season. He joins the team after spending five seasons at Michigan State University, where he worked with both the men's and women's throwers as an assistant coach.  

Pugh coaches the throwers and assists with the jumpers for the Tigers. Pugh directly coached Georgia Coleman and Fatimah Owens, who both had successful 2023 seasons. Coleman saw 13 top five finishes and three first place finishes in the hammer throw for her final outdoor season. She earned All-CAA Honors for placing third in the event at the Costal Athletic Association (CAA) Championships (58.17m) and was the Outdoor Eastern College Athletic Conference (CAA) Champion with a toss of 59.81m. She threw a lifetime PR of 61.82m at the NCAA Preliminary Round, becoming the second woman in Towson history to throw over 60m. Owens was an Outdoor ECAC Champion as well in the discus throw, after tossing the second best mark in program history, 50.72m. Fatimah qualified for the NCAA Preliminary Round in the event as well. For the indoor season, she earned All-CAA honors after placing third in the weight throw (18.61m). 

During his time with the Spartans, Pugh experienced success at the conference and national level. He coached 17 NCAA Regional Qualifiers and went on to see six NCAA Championship Qualifiers in events including discus, javelin, shot put and weight throw. He also had one student-athlete advance to the NCAA finals in men's discus. Pugh coached six All-Americans during his tenure in addition to two USA Team Qualifiers and an NACAC U23 qualifier. 

In the Big Ten, Pugh guided the throwers to four silver and two bronze medals in the conference championship. He also coached two All-Big Ten athletes.  

Before returning to his alma mater Michigan State, Pugh served as an assistant track and field coach at Adrian College in 2016 for one season. He worked with the throwers as well as overseeing the strength and conditioning program. He coached five MIAA medalists, including one gold and three silvers, and a division III All-American.  

He was also an assistant coach at Siena Heights University from 2013-2016. During his tenure, Pugh coached three individual national champions, eight All-Americans and 14 conference champions. Pugh's athletes broke multiple school records in addition to an NAIA meet record in the women's weight throw. 

During his time as a student-athlete at MSU, Pugh was a letterwinner from 2009-13. He was a three-time Big Ten Champion, twice in the in the discus throw, and once in the weight throw. He was also a three-time NCAA Division I East Preliminary Round Qualifier. The Grosse Ile, Michigan native, was named a U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Indoor and Outdoor First-Team All-American during the 2010-11 seasons. He was an Outdoor Second-Team All-American selection during the 2011-12 campaign, and was an Outdoor and Indoor Honorable Mention All-American at the conclusion of the 2012-13 seasons. He was voted a three-time team captain, received the coaches award in 2012 and he earned a Big Ten Sportsmanship Award in 2012-13. 

Pugh graduated from Michigan State with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication in 2013, and received his Master of Arts degree in Leadership, Concentration in Higher Education, at Siena Heights University in 2015.