A talented coach with extensive college and high school coaching experience, Steven Sarigiannis returns for his third year as an assistant coach for Cal State LA’s track and field program, specializing in the throwing events and pole vault.
Since joining Cal State LA, Sarigiannis has made an immediate impact on the Golden Eagles’ throwing program. In his first two years, he has coached four California Collegiate Athletic Association champions and developed sophomore Kailea Satterwhite into an NCAA Division II All-American in the discus. Satterwhite captured back-to-back CCAA discus titles and also earned a provisional NCAA qualifying mark in the indoor weight throw. Junior Sinaiah Pointer won the CCAA championship in the shot put after previously finishing runner-up as a sophomore and third as a freshman.
During his first season with the Golden Eagles, Sarigiannis guided freshman Matthew Bender to a CCAA championship in the javelin, highlighted by a personal-best performance. He also coached senior Vanessa Portillo to a runner-up finish at the conference championships, where she likewise achieved a personal best. These accomplishments reflect the rapid growth and competitive success of the program under his leadership.
Prior to arriving to Cal State LA, coach Sarigiannis was the head coach at Villanova Preparatory School in Ojai. During his time as a high school and private coach, he developed one Olympian, one national champion, four All-Americans, 17 national qualifiers, and 11 state champions. Altogether his athletes broke 44 school records and 27 athletes earned college scholarships.
During his tenure at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, Sarigiannis coached 25 athletes to the NCAA Division I national championship first-round. His athletes helped the team win six Patriot League championships with 18 athletes winning Patriot League individual titles in their respective events.
In addition, his work with the pole vaulters paid immediate dividends. Under his guidance, Jacqui Charnigo met an NCAA indoor provisional mark, NCAA outdoor qualifying mark, captured a pair of Patriot League titles and earned All-East recognition three times.
Prior to the US Naval Academy, Sarigiannis served as the head strength coach, men's & women track and field coach and cross-country coach at Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. During his tenure with the Colonials, he was primarily responsible for cross country, and during the track season he coached the throwing events and distance runners from the mile up.
He was also responsible for the fall training of the sprinters, jumpers, and hurdlers, and spearheaded the recruitment of all track & field athletes. Sarigiannis' athletes broke more than 100 school records with 23 NCAA qualifiers, 28 conference champions, four of which hold conference records, and 94 ECAC/IC4A qualifiers. In 2005, the women’s throwing squad scored 74 points at the conference championship in just four throwing events to give their team two-thirds of its total team points.
In addition to his responsibilities with the track and field and cross country teams, Sarigiannis was the head strength coach for five years, where he designed and oversaw strength and conditioning for 14 varsity teams.
Prior to his time at Robert Morris, Sarigiannis worked as a graduate assistant with the men's track & field team at Ball State University in Muncie, IN. While earning his master’s degree in health science, he coached and recruited the throwing events. In his short time with the Cardinals, he coached three MAC champions and coached Zach Riley to NCAA All-America honors in the hammer throw.
Sarigiannis also coached post-collegiate shot putter Tyler Blatchley, whose highest placing was seventh at the USA National Championships.
Sarigiannis is a USATF Level 2 coach in the throws, jumps and endurance events.
The product of Syracuse, NY, Sarigiannis was a four-year letter winner at UNC-Wilmington, where he majored in physical education and graduated with honors. The two-time academic all-league thrower also served as the school's student representative at the NCAA Leadership Conference.
Sarigiannis holds master’s degrees in psychology and health science.
