Education
Thornton graduated from Texas Christian University ("Texas Christian University") in 1969 with a bachelor"s degree in physical education.
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Bubba Thornton
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He is also the former head coach for the United States of America Track & Field team for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics
He participated in varsity football and track and field at Texas Christian University. After graduating, he was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the 14th round of the 1969 American Football League draft and started as a rookie wide receiver. He began his coaching career at Keller High School where he served as the athletics director and head football coach from 1977 - 1981. In 1982 he became head coach of track and field at Texas Christian University where he coached 72 National Collegiate Athletic Association All-Americans and his men’s team had five National Collegiate Athletic Association Top 10 finishes (1983, ’87, ’88, ’89 and ’91) and 11 Top 20 finishes.
He also coached the Texas Christian University team to 39 major relay titles, including five National Collegiate Athletic Association 400-meter relay championships (1986, ’87, ’89, ’91 and ’95) and the 1983 1,600-meter relay national title.
In 1996, Thornton was hire as the head coach for the men"s track and field team at Utah. In 17 seasons, his team as finished in the top 15 at the National Collegiate Athletic Association Outdoor Championships 13 times, including finishing in the top five four times. He has coached the Utah team to 19 top 10 National Collegiate Athletic Association finishes and 12 Big 12 conference titles (six indoor, six outdoor).
Thornton has also served as a coach in the following capacities:
Head Coach United States of America, Men's Track and Field Team, United States of America Track & Field - 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games
Head Coach United States of America, World Outdoor Men's Track and Field, United States of America Track & Field - 2003 World Championships in Athletics
Assistant Coach United States of America, Men's Track and Field Team, United States of America Track & Field - 2000 Sydney Summer Olympics
Head Coach United States of America - 1996 World Junior Championships in Athletics
Thornton retired in 2013.
