Fresno State Athletics
Baptista, Misipeka Named Assistant Track & Field Coaches
9/5/2008 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
Sept. 5, 2008
FRESNO, Calif. - Head Track and Field Coach Scott Winsor announced the completion of his staff for the 2008-09 season with the hiring of two assistant coaches, Chris Baptista and Lisa Misipeka to the track and field staff.
Baptista will remain on the Bulldog coaching staff as the sprints and hurdles coach. Baptista originally joined the Fresno State coaching staff in 2005 under Director of Track and Field, Bob Fraley.
Misipeka rounds out the Fresno State track and field staff as the throws coach. The three-time Olympian joins the Bulldogs after serving as an assistant coach at Northern Arizona and West LA College.
Over the past ten seasons, Baptista has produced two NCAA Division I All-Americans, two US Olympic Trials qualifiers, five NCAA Championship qualifiers, 34 NCAA Regional qualifiers and 36 individual conference champions.
"Chris has proven himself as a great coach, both here at Fresno State and at Tulsa," said Winsor. "I know nationally renowned coaches that would love to hire Chris if he were available. He brings a knowledge of Fresno State, local high school coaches and the state of California that we need."
In his three years with the Bulldogs, Baptista has guided 16 athletes to the NCAA West Regional. Baptista coached Ryan Moore to a school record 50.51 seconds in the 400-meter hurdles at the NCAA West Regional to qualify for the 2006 NCAA National Championships. Moore and then-freshman Val-Pierre Dai'Re qualified for the USA Track & Field Championships.
Before arriving at Fresno State, Baptista served as an assistant coach at The University of Tulsa. Baptista coached the Golden Hurricane's sprints, hurdles, jumps and multi-events. The native of Caruthers, Calif., served two years as the head men's and women's track coach at Shasta College and three years as an assistant coach at Troy State prior to Tulsa. He earned a bachelor's degree in physical education with a minor in health education from University of Alabama, Birmingham, in 1997.
"I'm tremendously honored to have the opportunity to be a part of such a great tradition of track and field at Fresno State," said Baptista.
Misipeka returns to collegiate coaching after training for the Olympic games and working with student-athletes of all ages through her company HYPE. As a professional athlete, she trained with University of Southern California's throws coach Dan Lane, as she earned a bronze medal at the World Championships in 1999 and championed various international meets en route to her appearances at the 1996, 2000, and 2004 Olympics.
"Lisa is a perfect fit for what we have been looking for at Fresno State," said Winsor. "She completes what will be a tremendous staff. She's shown coaching success and will be a strong recruiter and strong motivator."
 Lisa Misipeka, three-time Olympian in the hammer throw, has been hired to coach the throws for the track and field team.  | |
Misipeka competed for Southern Carolina as a collegiate athlete, earning All-American honors in three events and finishing second at the USA Track & Field Championships. Last year, she was inducted into both the University of South Carolina's Hall of Fame and the South Easter Conferene's Hall of Fame.
Misipeka and husband, Bryant Allen, created HYPE, How You Perceive Excellence, in 2000 to work with athletes individually. The program works to develop athletes physically, mentally, academically and emotionally.
In 2000, Misipeka began coaching at Northern Arizona, where she coached the throws. In her two years at NAU, she guided four athletes to the NCAA National Championship (two indoor and two outdoor). Her athletes made dramatic improvements in their marks under her tutelage.
Misipeka also coached at West Los Angeles College for a season. She has worked as a motivational speaker over the last ten years as well as working as a strength and conditioning coach for various LA-area athletic programs.
"I am looking forward to joining the Fresno State team," said Misipeka. "Coaching on the collegiate level is my passion and I'm very excited to be a part of a college that is so vibrant."
Misipeka, her husband, and their 18-month old son, Bryson, are moving to Fresno from Murrieta, Calif. She will begin working with the Bulldogs on Sept. 21.
Baptista has already returned to campus and has begun work with the team.
"I'm very excited about the staff we have put together," said Winsor. "The addition of Chris and Lisa brings together a staff with local and national experience."
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