California Director of Cross Country/Track & Field Robyne Johnson has announced the addition of Tyler Burdorff to the Golden Bears' staff as an assistant coach to lead the team's throws unit. Burdorff arrives at Cal from Maryland, where he coached for four years in the competitive Big Ten Conference and produced a pair of national records as well as two All-Americans, four USA Track & Field (USATF) Indoor Championships finalists and three major U20 championships qualifiers.
 
"We are delighted to announce Tyler as our new assistant coach for Cal throws," Johnson said. "Tyler stood out during the interview process, not only for his coaching acumen but also for the bond he has forged with his student-athletes and his unwavering commitment to helping them grow, both competitively and personally. We are thrilled to launch a new era for Cal throws with Tyler leading the way."
 
Burdorff's four years with the Terrapins (2022-25) saw him coach javelin throwers Kayla Thorpe (Barbados) and Mekhi Abbott (Virgin Islands) to national records, as well as a Barbados national title and championships meet record for Thorpe in 2024. In total, he produced two Second-Team All-Americans, an All-America Honorable Mention, 14 NCAA first round qualifiers, a Big 10 bronze medal, four USA Track & Field (USATF) Indoor Championships finalists, a European U20 Championships qualifier, two U20 Championships qualifiers and seven school records at Maryland.
 
Burdorff launched his Division I coaching career at Towson, where he led his athletes to an outdoor shot put school record, three NCAA first round qualifiers, two individual conference titles and three Coastal Athletic Association silver medalists.
 
His first full-time coaching role came at his graduate alma mater of Ithaca College, where he led the throws program from 2019-20 and took on the role of assistant coordinator of facilities, events and equipment after spending the 2018 season as a volunteer assistant at Cornell, where he aided in the development of an NCAA first round qualifier, two Ivy League champions and a school record in the shot put. His first foray into the world of coaching came while he was pursuing his master's degree (human performance with a concentration in exercise and sport sciences) at Ithaca, where he acted as a graduate assistant for the 2017 season. That year, he aided thrower Brandy Smith to an NCAA Division III discus title and an indoor shot put runner-up finish to help the team place second at the indoor and outdoor national championships. In his combined three years with the Bombers, Burdorff's athletes produced four school records, four All-American honors, five regional titles and 18 conference titles.
 
Burdorff graduated with a bachelor's degree in exercise science and pre-physical therapy from Baldwin Wallace in 2016, where he was a three-year starter at middle linebacker as well as a thrower for the Yellow Jackets. As a senior, he was the NCAA Division III runner-up in both the hammer and weight throw. Burdorff also holds certifications from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) as a Throws Event Specialist and a Strength & Conditioning Specialist. Since September 2024, Burdorff has coached two-time Greek Olympian hammer thrower Stamatia Scarvelis.
 
Burdoff replaces longtime Cal throws coach Mohamad Saatara, who departed in June after 12 years in Berkeley.
 
"I am extremely excited to join Robyne Johnson and her staff here at Cal," Burdorff said. "There is a rich history of track & field in California, especially in Berkeley, and I couldn't be more thrilled to be a part of it. I am also excited for the challenge of maintaining and building off the success that Coach Mo produced before me at Cal. I want to thank Coach Johnson for the opportunity and I can't wait to get started."
 
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