University of Arizona Athletics

Coach Matthew McGee joined the University of Arizona’s track and field staff August 2015 to guide the jumping, and combined event athletes. In two seasons, the group has earned 9 All-American honors 5 of which were first team, as well as 5 individual conference titles.

During the 2017 season Lisanne Hagens continued her dominance of the high jump event claiming both the indoor MPSF title as well as a second consecutive Pac-12 outdoor title. She also had her first top 8 NCAA finish during the indoor season, and improved her best to 6’0.75 (1.85m). Hagens was joined on the high jump podium by freshman Karla Teran who finished as the runner up. Teran would also go on to qualify for the NCAA outdoor finals.

Freshman Justice Summerset had a remarkable season becoming the first true freshman wildcat high jumper to claim first team All-American honors at both the NCAA indoor and outdoor championships. He reached a new best of 2.21m (7’3) in route to claiming 7^th indoor, and 3^rd outdoor. 

In his first season at Arizona, Pau Tonnesen place second at the 2016 NCAA Indoor championships in the Heptathlon with a school-record point total 6,027 points. Tonnesen also improved his pole vault best to 5.53m (18-1.5) in winning the indoor MPSF title He would go on to place 12th in that individual event at the NCAA indoor championships. Outdoor Tonnesen earned his second consecutive Pac-12 decathlon championship and a fourth-place finish at the NCAA’s with 8103 points. Tonnesen also claimed the Pac-12 Field Athlete of the Year award. During the summer Tonnesen and McGee made the trip to Rio de Janeiro Brazil where Tonnesen placed 17^th in his Olympic debut representing his mother’s native country Spain. 

Junior Alyssa Thompson enjoyed a bit of a breakout season in finishing second at the Pac-12 championships with a personal best point total of 5,580, and going on to place 14th at the NCAA finals. Lisanne Hagens claimed the Pac-12 women’s high jump title and went on to qualify for her first NCAA outdoor final.

Prior to joining the Arizona staff, McGee spent the previous ten season working with jumpers and combined event athletes at Washington State University. During his time McGee coached numerous conference champions and All-Americans in all four of the jumping events.

Pole Vaulter Tyson Byers placing 3^rd at the 2007 NCAA indoor championships reaching a best of 5.50m (18’0.50). McGee coached six of the top ten vaulters in the program’s history, with Kristine Felix becoming the first Pole Vault conference champion when she won the Pac-12 title during the 2013 season. She is the second ranked pole vaulter in University history with a best of 4.26m (13’11.75).

Five male High Jumpers reached at least 7 feet and five female reached at least 5’10.75 (1.80m) during McGee’s tenure. Trent Arrivey was a three time All-American, Pacific 10 conference and NCAA West region champion, reaching a best of 7’4.25 (2.25m). Holly Parent became an All-American and 4 time NCAA qualifier reaching a best of 6’0.75 (1.85m). During the 2015 season WSU had three women reach at least 5’10 (1.78m) in the High Jump, with Audrey Ketcham advancing to the NCAA championship finals and All-America honors after leaping 5’11.50 (1.82m) at the NCAA preliminary round. Charlotte Muschamp won the Pacific 12 women’s high jump conference title during the 2014 season. She reached a best of 5-11.5 (1.82m) while also finishing second in the triple jump with a best of 42’1.25 (12.83m).

Stephan Scott-Ellis became a 4 time All-American and 4 time conference champion in the Long and Triple jumps during his career reaching bests of 25’9.25 (7.85m), 52’8 16.05m, and 21.19 for 200m.
 
The San Francisco, Calif. native attended College of Marin and Diablo Valley College, where he competed in the decathlon. He transferred to Washington State and walked on to the team as a junior becoming an NCAA regional qualifier as well as a two time conference scorer including a second place in the javelin throw at the 2003 Pac-10 Championships.
McGee graduated from Washington State in 2003 with a degree in philosophy. He was named to the Pac-10 All-Academic and Arthur Ashe, Jr. Sports Scholar second team and was awarded a Pac-10 post-graduate scholarship.

He and his wife Karla have a son, Liam, and a daughter, Kaiya.