Tony Tenisci
enters his 31st year at the University of Pennsylvania in 2016-17. Tenisci, who
serves as the volunteer throws coach for the men's and women's programs, was previously
the Betty J. Costanza Head Coach of Women’s Track and Field and was the just
the third head coach in women's program history. He formally retired from that position following the 2016 season.
Tenisci is
known for being the creator of women’s hammer throwing in America. Through his
efforts, this event was created and developed into one of the finest throwing
events for women in track and field.
Tenisci has
coached numerous standout athletes in the throwing events as well as in the
horizontal jumps. That includes 2015 national champion Sam Mattis (discus) and
2003 national champion Brian Chaput (javelin). Many more of his
student-athletes have gone on to compete at the USA Championships, Senior
American National Championships and the Olympic Trials.
Since 2000,
in addition to a pair of national championships, Tenisci has coached Heptagonal
champions in eight different events, including Kelsey Hay in the javelin and
Mattis in the discus, who each set Heps records in their respective events in
2014, 2015 and 2016. Mattis has earned three first-team All-America awards,
while Hay became the first woman in school history to garner two outdoor
All-America accolades.
Widely
regarded as an outstanding technical coach in the throws and jumps, Tenisci has
held extensive clinics throughout the country. He is also known as a specialist
in the areas of weight training and conditioning, having designed various
strength and training programs for other teams at Penn, as well as for
professional athletic organizations. Tenisci isthe inventor and
international patent holder on an exercise machine for muscle growth and
dynamics. He has published numerous articles in both scientific and
recreational publications in the United States and overseas.
Tenisci
began his coaching career at his alma mater, Washington State University, in
1978, where he served as a coach for the women’s track and field program and
assisted with the men’s weight events.
A 1974
graduate of Washington State, Tenisci was a four-time NCAA All-American in the
hammer throw for the Cougars. He is a former Canadian national record holder in
the hammer throw (221-3) and has participated in the British Commonwealth and
Pan American Games. He also trained and studied in Germany, Russia and
Australia.
Tenisci
earned his master’s degree in physical education from Washington State after
doing postgraduate work in physiology and biomechanics of exercise in athletics
at the University of Moscow in Russia. He has also studied at the University of
Gutenburg in Germany and the University of Hawaii.
