Minnesota Coach Goes Blue

University of Michigan men's track and field head coach Jerry Clayton announced the hiring of Steven Rajewsky (pronounced rah-jes-kee) as an assistant coach for the Wolverines. Rajewsky will oversee Michigan's sprinters and hurdlers.

"We are excited about the addition of Steve to our track and field program," said Clayton. "He will coordinate our recruiting and coach the sprints-hurdle and assist with the field events. Steve understands the team concept of track and field and has aided in seven conference championships during his career. He has experience in the Big Ten Conference and has had great success with the development of student-athletes under his tutelage."

Rajewsky is no stranger to Big Ten track and field, earning his start in Division I coaching as a volunteer assistant coach with the women's track and field program at the University of Minnesota from 2004-06. He concentrated on the Gophers' sprints, jumps, hurdles and multi-event groups. In 2006, he helped lead Minnesota to the Big Ten Outdoor championship, guiding six student-athletes to individual conference titles. He also directed three Big Ten Freshmen of the Year, five school record-holders, seven NCAA Championship qualifiers, six NCAA All-Americans and one NCAA champion (800-meter run).

The Blue Earth, MN native was a six-time All-MIAC performer and 2004 team captain of the University of St. Thomas men's track and field program. Rajewsky was a 2003 Provisional NCAA Championship qualifier and helped lead St. Thomas to eight MIAC team titles (indoor and outdoor championships from 2000-04). He graduated from St. Thomas in 2004 with a bachelor's degree in sociology and a teaching licensure in social studies.

Rajewsky joins the Wolverine staff after spending the past six seasons (2008-13) as an assistant coach at Kent State University, working with their men's and women's sprint and hurdles groups. During his time at KSU, he helped lead the Golden Flashes to eight Mid-American Conference (MAC) championships, including four straight women's outdoor titles (2010-13), three women's indoor crowns (2010, 2012-13) and the 2009 men's indoor championship.

Under Rajewsky's guidance, his student-athletes garnered three MAC Athlete of the Year citations and three MAC Indoor Track Performer of the Meet awards. In addition, he coached 28 MAC champions, 64 All-MAC performers, 11 school-record holders, 12 NCAA East Preliminary qualifiers, one NCAA Championship qualifier and three USA Junior Championship participants.

Prior to his stint at Kent State, Rajewsky served as the interim head coach at Ball State University from 2006-08, working with the Cardinals' jumps, hurdles and multi-event student-athletes. At Ball State Rajewsky's student-athletes recorded nine MAC individual titles, five school records, 19 All-MAC performances, seven NCAA Mid-East Regional qualifying performances and four NCAA Championship qualifying performances. Rajewsky guided two-time MAC record-holder Amber Williams to All-America honors in the 100-meter hurdles, a fourth-place finish at the USA Indoor Championships and participation at the 2007 USA Championships. During his time at Ball State, Rajewsky also earned his Master of Arts in sports administration for higher education in 2008.

Rajwesky has spoken at, and helped direct, several camps and clinics across the country in both track and field and basketball.