College of Saint Mary

Bio

Steve Gordon Jr. joined the College of Saint Mary Track & Field staff during the 2023-2024 season as an assistant and was named the head coach on June 3, 2024.

Family: Wife - Tonya (Kneifl) Gordon; Daughter - Ad’astra Gordon

Alma Mater and year: 

University of Nebraska-Lincoln (1992-1995) - Architecture

University of South Dakota (1997-1998) - B.S. Fine Art-Visual Communications

Playing career and highlights:

Omaha Creighton Prep  (1989-1992)

University of Nebraska Track & Field (1992-1995)

University of South Dakota Track & Field (1997-1998)

Pro - 1999-2004

Personal Bests:

Triple jump: 54’ 6” / 16.61m (college), 55’ 9” / 17.01m (pro)

Long jump: 24’ 7” / 7.50m

High jump: 6’ 11.75” / 2.13m

Highest ranking: US #3, World #12 (triple jump)

Other honors and accomplishments:

Nebraska State Champion (triple jump, Creighton Prep), ‘91, ‘92

US Junior National Team - Junior Pan Am, ‘93

Big 8 Conference Indoor Runner-Up (triple jump), ‘94

Husker Invite Champion (triple jump), ‘97, ‘98

Drake Relays Champion (triple jump), ‘97, ‘98

NCC Indoor Champion (long jump, triple jump) ‘97, ‘98

NCC Outdoor Champion (long jump, triple jump) ‘97, ‘98

NCAA Div II Indoor National Champion (triple jump), ‘97, ‘98 (national meet record, 53’ 10.5”)

NCAA Div II Outdoor National Runner-Up (triple jump), ‘97, ‘98

USA National Championships Qualifier, ‘97, ‘98, 2000

US National Team - World University Games, ‘97

NCAA Div II Hall of Fame (inducted 2006)

Creighton Prep Hall of Fame (inducted 2012)

USD Hall of Fame (inducted 2014)

5x All-American

Coaching experience:

University of South Dakota, 1999, Graduate Assistant, Jumps

University of Nebraska-Omaha, 2000-2006, Jumps

Omaha Westside High School, 2007-2023, Jumps & Sprints

Iowa Western Community College, 2015, Jumps

US Olympic & Paralympic Committee, Jumps, 2017-current

Tachyon Athletik, club/elite training camp, Co-Founder & Coach, 2000-current

Other coaching accomplishments:

USA Track & Field, Level 1 & Level 2 Certified (Jumps)

Nebraska Class-A Long Jump State Champion, Emily Wilkinson, 2009

NJCAA National Champion, Andreas Trajkovski, 2015

NJCAA National Champion, Ihab El Hajari, 2015

Danish National Champion, Andreas Trajkovski, 2015-2018

European U20 Championship Medalist, Andreas Trajkovski, 2015

USA Outdoor National Qualifier, Shylia Rylie, 2018

USA Indoor National Finalist, Tristine Johnson, 2019

Moroccan National Champion, Ihab El Hajari, 2015

US Para National Champion, Taleah Williams, 2017-2022

World Para Champion, Taleah Williams, 2017

Polish National Finalist, Magdalena Wikar, 2017, 2018

Swedish National Finalist, No.3 U20 Ranking, Thilda Särnevång, 2017-2019

USA Masters National High Jump Champion, Tonya (Kneifl) Gordon, 2021

Mexican National Champion, Carolina Corral, 2022

Nebraska All-Class Long Jump State Champion, Lademi Davies, 2022

Canadian U20 National Long Jump Runner-Up, Lademi Davies, 2022

Why you like coaching at College of Saint Mary: "I love to help young people achieve whatever their level or goals may be. I very much look forward to the challenge of growing a nationally recognized program right here in Omaha by affording student-athletes the opportunities to do just that."