Recruited by Carmyn James, Andy McInnis is in his fourth year with the very young UH program.
A long time friend and peer of James, McInnis come to help develop an edge to the program she was looking for. Together, both coaches share a vision for the boundless potential that Hawai`i represents. both coaches had collaborated successfully for over 10 years in Canada on athlete development, coaching education and national team projects. it was felt that together with a history of successes, the two coaches could really fast track the development of the sport again in Hawai`i.
"The University of Hawai`i offers a strong and complete academic opportunity, economically centered on the trans Pacific flyways and now with great new facilities and a very supportive athletic department," McInnis said. "It is a place where student-athletes can train in perfect conditions and with outstanding support."
With 28 years of experience at the highest international levels of track and field, McInnis brings a broad vision to Hawai`i. He has coached at four Olympic Games and nine World Outdoor Championships.
With a tremendous legacy for winning, McInnis began his career mentoring a series of Canadian Championship University teams from 1977-1983. He was then recruited to Louisiana State University by Coach Loren Seagrave to initiate what was to become an incredible program that would go on to dominate women's track and field in the NCAA for the next 15 years. While at LSU, McInnis had the pleasure of coaching the school's first ever nCAA Women's Champion (in any sport) and the first Men's NCAA Champion at LSU in more than 15 years at that time. he was also a part of the very first NCAA National Team in 1987.
In 1988, he returned to Canada to take on series of positions on the National Team while developing another of the country's finest Club programs in Ottawa. He was the head coach of the Canadian World Junior Team in 1992 and the Olympic Team of Atlanta '96, and the National Director of Programs for Athletics Canada from 1997-99, before moving into an international sport consultancy role with several federations for Sydney 2000.
McInnis now leads the programming for the running events and cross country team.
