University of Idaho Athletics

Jason Fearheiley is back for his third year coaching at the University of Idaho where he oversees the throwing events for the Vandals.

The 2016-17 track and field season was another growing year for Idaho, as the Vandals continued to improve and invest in the throwing disciplines.  Kolcie Bates closed out her collegiate career with her highest finish at the Big Sky Conference Outdoor Championships by taking fifth in the hammer throw.  Bates improved throughout her career in the hammer, moving into fourth in program history with a personal-best throw of 55.73 meters last season.  Fearheiley also coached an All-Big Sky Conference performer in the women’s shot put.  Zachary Short also closed out his freshman campaign well, finishing fifth in the men’s shot put at the Championships.  In the indoor season, Short ranked 90th in the country, and 4th as a true freshman, with a mark of 17.47 meters.  Short ended the year earning USTFCCCA All-Academic honors as one of the top student-athletes in the nation both in the classroom and on the field.

The Vandals had three athletes score at the Big Sky Outdoor Championships under the tutelage of Fearheiley in 2015-16, led by Juan Medina’s sixth place finish in the discus.  Matthew Pete Bauman placed seventh in the hammer throw, while Bates earned eighth in the discus.  The group of throwers continued to improve all season long.

Medina, Bauman and Bates also each set personal bests during the 2015-16 season.  Medina threw a personal-best of 15.72 meters in the shot put at the Al Manuel Northwest Dual in April, but saved his best performance in the discus for the Big Sky Championships, where he set a PR of 48.82 meters to earn sixth.  Bauman was tremendous in his first season with the Vandals, setting PR’s in the discus (45.71 meters) and the hammer throw (53.28).  Much like Medina, Bauman also saved his best performance for last, setting his PR in the hammer throw at the Big Sky Championships.

Fearheiley was also an assistant coach at Colorado State University’s prestigious summer throw camps.  He knows the throwing events well after his time at Colorado State University as a student-athlete, competing in the discus, javelin and the hammer.   He thrived under the guidance and mentoring of head track & field coach Brian Bedard, one of the top throwing coaches in the country.  Fearheiley developed into a scorer in three events at the Mountain West Conference Championships as a freshman, junior and senior.   Fearheiley was also a three time NCAA Championships Regional Qualifier in the discus.

Fearheiley is continually expanding his knowledge, most recently earning certification as a USTFCCCA Throws Specialist.