Tony Monroe enters his sixth year as an assistant coach for Seattle U track and field in 2023-24 primarily with sprints and overseeing the jumps, throws and combined events.
In the 2023 indoor season, Monroe helped guide the team to 23 new top-ten performances in school history, with three new school records. True freshman Miguel Rosario III set the school record in the 60m twice this season, as he ran 6.84 at the UW Preview, and then 6.80 at the Husky Classic. The women’s Distance Medley Relay team of Grace Much, Taylor Marks, Maya McCabe, and Azalea Groleau set the school record at the UW Invite, where they ran 11:55.21. Two different teams set the school record in the men’s Distance Medley Relay as well. At the UW Invite, the team of Alex Franklin, Isaiah Payne, Hezekiah Goodwin, and Gus Harquail clocked in a time of 10:00.19 to break the school record. At the WAC Championships, the team of Alex Franklin, Isaiah Payne, Matthew Holme, and Gus Harquail not only set the school record, but also won the WAC Championship, in a time of 10:00.10. Bryana Rogers also saw success at the WAC Championships, as she would jump 11.89m in the triple jump to place eighth overall, earning All-WAC Second Team honors.In the 2023 outdoor season, Monroe continued the success from the indoor season, as the team would set 35 new top-ten performances in school history. True freshman Jamaari Jefferson would set the school record in the long jump twice this season, as he would jump 6.90m at the Stanford Invitational, and then 7.00m at the WAC Championships. The men’s 4x100m would set the school record twice with two different teams. At the Beach Invitational, the team of Noah Payne, Tom Topinka, Isaiah Payne, and Miguel Rosario III clocked in a time of 41.51 to tie the original school record. At the WAC Championships, the team of Noah Payne, Kavon Holden, Isaiah Payne, and Miguel Rosario III would run a time of 41.22 to set the school record in the event. Additionally, Miguel Rosario III would run the fastest 100m in school history of 10.58, but would not be considered for a school record since the effort was wind aided (2.5w).
In the 2022 outdoor track and field season, Monroe led Lucas Milne (decathlon), and Nicole Whittern (javelin throw) to All-WAC Second Team finishes. Isaiah Payne started the season with a new school record in the 200, while Jocelyn set the 100m record twice and Milne set school records in the decathlon and the 110m hurdles record three times. A school record in the school record was set in the last event of the season as the 4x400m team of Taylor Marks, Postma, Jocelyn and McCabe set the record in their first time competing as a relay team. Overall, Seattle U set eleven school records, posting 42 new top-10 marks and 105 personal bests.
In the 2022 indoor track and field season, Monroe guided Tricht Jocelyn to set the 60m (three) and 200m (twice) school records during the season, while Lucas Milne set the 60m hurdles and heptathlon school record. Overall, Seattle U set seven school records, posting 40 new top-10 marks and 64 new personal bests.
In the 2021 season, Monroe coached Tricht Jocelyn, Isaiah Payne, Bryana Rogers and Morgan Young to All-WAC Second Team honors. Jocelyn (100m, 200m), Payne (200m) Young (triple jump) also set new school records.
In the 2020 season, he coached Regie Grady, Maya McCabe, Michelle Newblom and Siobhan Rubio to a new school record in the 4x400m relay, while also overseeing Newblom’s school-record effort in the 60m hurdles and Grady’s school-record 200m dash.
In his first year with the Redhawks (2019), he coached Caylah Lunning to a bronze medal at the WAC championships in the long jump.
Monroe’s career as a coach and athletic director spans more than 33 years. Prior to his time at Seattle U, he spent seven years as the jumps & javelin coach at Central Washington University, following three years as head coach for cross country and track at Central Oregon Community College in Bend, Ore.
In 2011, Monroe coached both the indoor and outdoor men’s GNAC champions in the high jump. In 2012, his indoor and outdoor jumpers were a major force on the team, with the men winning the long and high jumps at GNAC Championships. During his time at CWU, he coached three school record-holders and numerous Division II national qualifiers. Monroe also oversaw the career of two-time All-American triple jumper Luke Plumber as well as five-time All-American and national runner-up high jumper Tayler Fettig.
He has extensive experience working with all track events and age groups with clubs, high schools and colleges. As the head track & cross country coach at Bishop Manogue Catholic High School in Reno, Nev., his boys and girls teams won 10 division championships, five Nevada State Championships and three State runner-up trophies in 10-years. As a result, Manogue was recognized as one of the top track teams in all of Nevada. Monroe has coached over 40 individual Nevada State Champions with at least one in every track and field event, as well as several past and current Nevada state record-holders. He coached the fastest miler (4:08) in Nevada high school history and junior national team member in the 1500 (3:51), the winner of the Golden West Invitational mile (4:10.65), Brad Meyer (National Champion 1500m, 3k, 5k), and 1989 National High Jump Champion Justin James, among countless others. Monroe was named league and division Coach of the Year several times, culminating in the title of Nevada State High School Coach of the Year in 1993, awarded by the National High School Coaches Association. He was instrumental in adding girl’s pole vault to Nevada high school track, coaching the first Nevada high school female vaulter. Later, he helped Andrea Miezel to an eighth place national finish in the heptathlon, and also worked previously with NJCAA All-American Josh Jones.
Post collegiate, Monroe competed for several years with the Rail City Striders and the Reno Track Club, participating in multiple national and international tournaments. In 1986, Monroe won the title for Pacific Association of The Athletics Congress (USATF) 800 meters and medaling in the 1500. He was selected PA/TAC 1500/miler of the year in 1987.
Monroe was a high school varsity athlete in three sports, after which he played junior college basketball and competed for the University of Nevada Reno as a track athlete. He was part of Nevada’s Big Sky Conference championship team in 1982. Later, Monroe was a graduate assistant for Hall of Fame coach Jack Cook. As a GA, he assisted Coach Cook with his “Theory of Track and Field” class and in the writing of his book, titled “Run, Jump, Throw”. Monroe had a major role in assisting with the concept, organizing, and implementing the first two Nevada-hosted indoor meets known as the “Fabulous Fifties”.
Additionally, Monroe is instrumental on the Seattle University Campus as a program assistant and contributes to the recruiting, supporting and success of Native American students through the Indigenous Peoples Institute.
In 2020 Monroe was awarded Honorary Doctoral Degree from Laurel College for his lifetime contribution and success in supporting and mentoring Native American students and athletes Monroe is a member of the Reno Sparks Indian Colony's Sports Hall of Fame (basketball).
He had been the PNW USATF Open Chairman since 2021.
Monroe is an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation (Kah Milth Pum, Cascade & Klickitat) of Washington.