Teri Cantwell Named Assistant Coach
8/31/2010 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
Aug. 31, 2010
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Mizzou track and field head coach Brett Halter has announced that Teri Cantwell will complete his coaching staff as an assistant coach for the program, specializing in the throws and horizontal and vertical jumps. Cantwell, formerly Teri Steer, is an accomplished shot putter and was an Olympian in 2000 and a two-time NCAA National Champion in the event. Cantwell is also married to former Tiger Christian Cantwell, who is currently dominating the shot put as a post collegian.
"I believe Teri is one of the finest coaches that I have ever been around," Halter said. "Her enthusiasm, positive coaching style and never-say-never attitude, coupled with her contagious smile and personal accomplishments in the sport would be welcome to any staff in the country. Teri's impact will be felt by the department, coaching staff and most importantly the student-athletes immediately. Teri will obviously be assisting me with the development of our throwers, but will also spend a great deal of her time assisting Coach Dan Lefever in the horizontal and vertical jumps."
"I have been participating in track and field since I was five years old and I think I have been coaching since I was six years old," Cantwell said. "I am passionate about the love of training hard and seeing the results of that work. I am the coach who loves to laugh, but in the opposite direction I'm serious about winning championships. I am extremely excited and honored that Coach Halter has brought me on board. The Missouri Family is amazing and I hope I can contribute to that spirit."
From 2003 through 2005, Cantwell served as an assistant coach with the Oklahoma State track and field program where she mentored three All-Americans and a pair of Big 12 Champions. She has also served as an assistant coach with the SMU track and field team (1999-2000) and a volunteer assistant coach with the Georgia athletic program all while pursuing a decorated professional career in the shot put.
As a student-athlete and post collegian, Cantwell put together a fine career as one of the nation's top shot putters. She claimed the Bronze Medal at the 1999 IAAF World Indoor Championships in the shot put with a throw of 18.86m (61-10 ½) and went on to represent the United States at the 2000 Olympic Games. She also claimed three USATF National Championships in the shot put. She claimed indoor national titles in 1999 and 2002 and claimed an outdoor national title in 2002 as well. She also claimed a Bronze Medal in the shot put at the 1999 Pan-American Games.
During her time as a student-athlete at SMU, Cantwell was a two-time NCAA Champion in the shot put and an eight-time All-American. She is also the former NCAA Collegiate shot put record holder and was a 2000 inductee into the SMU Athletics Hall of Fame. She holds personal-best marks of 19.21m (63-0) in the shot put and 60.38m (198-1) in the discus throw.
Cantwell is the final hire for Halter, who took over as head track and field coach following the retirement of Rick McGuire. Aside from Cantwell, Halter also brought in Fred Bingelli as the men's distance coach and former Tiger Tim Cornell as director of operations. Also, Rebecca Wilmes was promoted to head cross country coach and associate head coach of the track and field team. Dan Lefever was also promoted to associate head coach as well.
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