Valeriu Tomescu, who spent 10 years as track and field head coach of the Romanian national team from 1998-2008, has been named an assistant coach for Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns Track and Field program.

His hiring is pending approval by the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors.

Tomescu will coach the Ragin’ Cajuns men’s and women’s cross country squad and work with the distance runners in the track and field program.

As Romanian national team head coach he coached male and female athletes in marathon, half marathon, 10K, 5K and cross country distances for the Olympic Games, European Championships and World Championships.

He directed Romania’s track and field athletes at the Olympic Games in Athens (2004) and Beijing (2008).

Tomescu guided a team and an individual to gold medals in the Olympics and World Championships.

The Romanian Olympic Committee and Romanian Track and Field Federation rewarded him with coach of the year honors in 2005 and 2008.

Tomescu’s expertise includes strength and conditioning, training schedules and recovery methods. He implements scientific methods into the training using exercise physiology and biomechanics.

Tomescu received a bachelors of science in physical training and sports – with a track and field emphasis – from Academy of Sports in Bucharest, Romania. He also received levels of track and field coaching certification I-II-III from the Romanian Ministry of Sports as well as the USATF certification levels I and II.

— Ragin’ Cajuns —