Elena Bruckner enters her third year as a volunteer assistant coach for the Golden Bears in 2023-24.
Bruckner attended college at the University of Texas, eventually graduating as one of the Longhorns’ top throwers in program history. She broke school records in the hammer throw, the weight throw and the outdoor discus, as well as earning the No. 4 and No. 5 spots, respectively, in the outdoor and indoor shot put. In 2018, she was named to the All-American Second Team for the discus throw; two years later, she made First Team All-American and was Big 12 Champion in the indoor shot put. Bruckner was also outstanding in the classroom, twice earning Academic All-Big 12 honors.
A native of San Jose, Bruckner attended Valley Christian High School and went undefeated in shot put in both her junior and senior years, earning two California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) State Championships and also placing third and second at State in the discus throw in her final two years. In her last year, she attended the IAAF World U20 Track & Field Championships, finishing seventh in both the shot put and discus throw.
