Wilbourn Announces Hires of Jacobson, Posillico as Assistant Coaches

DURHAM, N.C. – Duke Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Shawn Wilbourn has made two additions to his staff with the hiring of Tatijana Jacobson and Angelo Posillico as assistant coaches.

Jacobson will serve as an assistant track & field coach (jumps), while Posillico has been hired as the assistant track & field coach (throws). Both are slated to begin their appointments on July 1.

Jacobson joins the Blue Devils after spending the 2020-21 season as the jumps & multis coach at Arizona. During her time at Arizona, she oversaw heptathlete Skylar Sieben, who finished fourth in the event at the Pac-12 Championship and reached the NCAA Outdoor Championship for the first time, finishing 21st.

"Tatijana brings a wealth of experience to Duke, having coached in the ACC, SEC and Pac 12," said Wilbourn. "I'm excited to bring her to Duke and really look forward to working with her in the jumps and combined events."

Prior to her tenure at Arizona, she spent the indoor season at Central Michigan before the outdoor season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Before that, Jacobson spent four years at Georgia, where she was also the jumps & multis coach. During her time in Athens, the Bulldogs tallied two national team championships and 12 top-six finishes at the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships, including two national runners-up and 10 top-four podium finishes. Jacobson played a role in the development of student-athletes like Keturah Orji, who would set American and collegiate records in the triple jump and place fourth in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

"I am thrilled to be joining the Duke family and working with an excellent group of both staff and student-athletes," said Jacobson. "The direction that Coach Wilbourn has pushed the program to continues to rise and I am thankful to have the opportunity to be a part of that. The reputation that Duke Athletics has is second to none and I'm excited to continue to bring in and work with student-athletes that will only push that forward on the ACC, NCAA and the International levels."

Jacobson also spent 2013-15 as a volunteer assistant at North Carolina, where she was a part of the same staff as new Duke Head Coach of Men's and Women's Cross Country Angela Reckart. She is a 2013 graduate of Eastern Michigan, where she was an All-MAC high jumper.

Posillico comes to Durham after spending the past four seasons as an assistant coach at Army West Point. Posillico helped oversee the development of several of the best throwers in program history, including August Cook, who qualified for three NCAA Outdoor Championships in the javelin, most recently taking 13th this season to become a USTFCCCA Second Team All-American.

"The event area where we can grow the most is in the throws and I'm confident that Angelo is the right person for the job," said Wilbourn. "I've been following his success at Army for years and I know he will make the most of this opportunity."

The 2021 season was an impressive year for Posillico, who was honored for his work by being named the USTFCCCA Northeast Region Assistant Coach of the Year. He also guided the USTFCCCA Northeast Region Men's and Women's Field Athletes of the Year in Cook and Emily Mikoud. Posillico also helped guide the Black Knights to the 2019 Patriot League Indoor Track & Field Championship, several strong performances from his throwers, who broke four school records in the combined 2019 season.

"I'm excited and grateful for the opportunity to join Duke Athletics," said Posillico. "Duke's combination of elite academics and athletics attracts top tier student-athletes that I cannot wait to mentor to their full potential. I am immediately impressed by the enthusiasm that Shawn Wilbourn and the track & field teams have for success and look forward to doing my part to continue building a program that everyone can be proud of."

Prior to his time at Army, Posillico was the director of cross country and track & field at Division III Springfield College for one season. Posillico spent the six prior seasons at Division III SUNY Oneonta, where he served as head coach of cross country and associate head coach of track & field before being promoted to the head coach of both sports for the final three years.

Under his leadership, SUNY Oneonta had 30 All-Americans in cross country and track & field, four NCAA Division III individual national champions, a Division III National Athlete of the Year, and five SUNYAC Track & Field Team Championships.

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Wilbourn Announces Hires of Jacobson, Posillico as Assistant Coaches

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