Coach Brian Yokoyama brings 19 years of experience to the Mounties Track and Field Program.  During his tenure he has worked with over 55 California State Community College State finalists including eight State Champions (seven pole vaulters, one javelin thrower) and nine State Runner-Up Finishers. Through the years he has coached nearly every event and has guided school record holders in the men’s and women’s Pole Vault and Javelin.

Since 1995, Yokoyama has also served as an Assistant Cross Country Coach, helping lead the Mountie Women to 3 State Championships and 8 top five finishes.  In 1995 and 1996, he served as the Women’s Track and Field Head Coach and led the team to a second place finish during the 1996 season.

In 2001, he guided two Mounties over the 17 foot barrier. Future Olympian Giovanni Lanaro cleared a school record of 17'06" to capture the National Community College Championship and State Champion, Dustin Morrison to the number two all-time Mt. SAC mark of 17'01". He was also named the National College Pole Vault Coach of the Year by the USA Track and Field Pole Vault Development.

In 2001 he was named the College National Pole Vault Coach of the Year by the USA Track and Field Pole Vault Development. In 2007, he was named State Assistant Track and Field Coach of the Year by the California Community College Cross Country/Track Coaches Association and in 2008 he was named South Coast Conference Assistant Track and Field Coach of the Year by his peers.

Yokoyama is very active with the USA Track and Field Pole Vault Development.  He currently serves as the Women’s National Pole Vault Development Chairperson. He is a member of the Board of Directors for the North American Pole Vault Association and is actively involved in running the USATF Pole Vault Summit (3,000 attendees in Reno, NV) and the NAPVA National Championships (8,000 Spectators) in Clovis, California as Co-Director.

Through the years, Yokoyama has worked/consulted with many top national and international pole vaulters including:

• Giovanni Lanaro-(19’01”-5.82M) 4th place at the 2006 IAAF World Indoor Championships, USA Community College Champion, California State Community College Champion, Mexican National Champion, Mexican National Record Holder, Pan American Record Holder, 3 time NCAA Division 1 All-American, 2004 and 2008 Mexican Olympian
• Daichi Sawano-(19’01.5”-5.83M) 2006 IAAF World Ranking #4, Japanese Record Holder, 2004 Olympic Finalist, 2008 Olympian 
• Rob Pike-(18’06.5”-5.65M) 3 time Canadian National Champion, 2001 World Championship Competitor
• Tim Mack-(19’08.5”-6.01M) 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist, 2004 Number One World Ranking, Olympic Record Holder, US Olympic Trials Record Holder, US National Champion
• Teruyasu Yonekura-(18’04.5”-5.60M) Former Japanese Record Holder, 1996 Atlanta Olympian
• Manabu Yokoyama-(18’08.25”-5.70M) Former Japanese Record Holder, 2000 Sydney Olympian
• Jeff Ryan-(18’00.5”-5.50M) NCAA Division 1 All-American
• Jason Hinkin-(18'08.25"-5.70M) NCAA Division 1 Indoor Champion, 5 Time NCAA Division 1 All-American, Long Beach State School Record Holder

He is an active clinician and a lead pole vault instructor for the LA84 Foundation (Legacy of the 1984 Olympic Games) Track and Field Coaching Clinics.  He has also presented at numerous top clinics throughout the US and the world including the USA Track and Field Coaches National Clinic, Japanese National Pole Vault Camp, Taiwan National Pole Vault Camp, Arizona State High School Coaches Clinic, All Sports Clinic and Montana Pole Vault Clinic.

Prior to arriving at Mt. SAC, Yokoyama served as an Assistant Coach at Lynwood High School (Lynwood, CA). Through the years his high school pole vaulters have made 11 California State High School Championship Finals (top 9) appearances. He has also worked with a number of top High School Decathletes including the #1 and #2 High School Decathletes of all-time, Donovan Kilmartin and Marcel Allmond.

At Mt. SAC, he currently serves as the Sports Information Director and has served in other capacities including Marketing Director of the Performing Arts Center.

Yokoyama received his Bachelors Degree in Kinesiology from Cal Poly Pomona. In his spare time, Yokoyama enjoys spending time with his family, cooking and traveling.  Coach Yokoyama and his wife, Shinobu (Yamamoto), reside in Pomona with their two young daughters, Raechel and Daphne.

Updated 09-03-08