Blutreich, a former Olympic discus thrower (1992, Barcelona), joins the Sun Devil family after spending the previous nine seasons with the University of Oklahoma, coaching two Olympians, six NCAA national champions, 36 All-Americans, 23 Big 12 Conference champions and 10 current school record holders. From 1986-90, he was a student-athlete of the Pac-10/12 at UCLA where he earned All-America honors six times with three in both the shot put and discus throw. He added Pac-10 discus titles in 1989 and 1990.
"I'm very excited to join the Arizona State track and field family and continue the tradition and foundation that coach (David) Dumble has built with the throwing program here," said Blutreich. "The potential here is outstanding. I am looking forward to coming back to the Pac-12, especially now as a coach."
Most recently, he has helped coach Charles Nguyen to the Rio Olympics for Canada in the hammer throw, as well as three women to First-Team All-American honors in 2016. He's also had a student-athlete capture a Big 12 title in eight of his nine seasons.
"When we initiated our search for our throw's position we asked one simple question: who would be the best fit for our program?," said Director of Track and Field Greg Kraft. "The universal answer was Brian Blutreich. What Brian created at the University of Oklahoma is very similar to what Dawn and David Dumble have built at ASU. The blue print is to recruit outstanding all-around student-athletes, and then teach and train them to be National Champions. Brian's resume as a student-athlete, Olympian and decorated coach will lend to what I believe to be a seamless coaching transition. We are excited to welcome Brian and his family into our ASU family."
Off the field, Blutreich's athletes have embraced the student aspect with 35 All-Academic honors during his tenure, including a Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2012 and five CoSIDA Academic All-Americans.
Prior to OU, Blutreich spent 11 seasons at the University of North Carolina as the men's assistant head coach, where he helped grow the program to one of the nation's best. He helped develop seven individual NCAA champions, 30 All-Americans, 45 Atlantic Coast Conference event champions and 112 All-ACC performers. During his tenure, his athletes set all 12 possible throws events records at UNC. He also earned two USTFCCCA National Assistant Coach of the Year honors.
Former athletes Laura Gerraughty (United States) and Vikas Gowda (India) competed at the 2004 Olympics as part of one the greatest campaigns in UNC history. Blutreich was honored as a National Assistant Coach of the Year after guiding Gerraughty to a sweep of NCAA indoor and outdoor national shot put titles and the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Championships title, becoming the first collegiate athlete to win the women's shot put.
In 2002, Blutreich was also the men's throws coach for Team USA at the 2002 World Junior Championships in Kingston, Jamaica.
Throwing is something of a family matter, as his wife Lynda Lipson-Blutreich was a three-time U.S. Champion in the javelin and competed in the 2000 Olympic games, two World Championship games and two Pan-Americans. She is also a former American record holder.
Blutreich replaces former coach David Dumble, who has stepped down after 13 seasons.