Track and Field
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- Title:
- Associate Head Track & Field Coach/Recruiting Coordinator
- Email:
- slvenable@liberty.edu
- Start Date:
- 08/29/2016
Shawn Venable joined the Liberty track & field staff as an assistant coach for jumps and hurdles in the fall of 2016, after spending the previous four seasons at Oral Roberts. In January 2018, he added the title of recruiting coordinator, and in January 2023, Venable was promoted to associate head track & field coach.
The athletes Venable coaches stepped up at the 2025 CUSA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, including a program record in the men’s long jump (Markus White’s 25-8), a dramatic victory in the men’s triple jump (Joshua Smith) and a 1-2 finish by Josh Blalock and Jacob Torres in the men’s 400 hurdles final.
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Venable oversaw an outstanding senior season by Makenzy Mizera punctuated with her qualification to the 2024 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in the women’s triple jump. She was also named CUSA Field Performer of the Meet after sweeping the conference’s indoor long jump and triple jump titles.
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Venable’s hurdles crew excelled in 2023, breaking three long-standing program records (indoor women’s 60 hurdles – 8.23 by Indea Cartwright, outdoor men’s 110 hurdles – 13.67 by Prosper Ekporere and outdoor men’s 400 hurdles – 50.27 by Rayan Holmes). The Flames especially showcased their depth in the ASUN men’s hurdles finals, going 1-2-3 in the 60 hurdles, 1-2 in the 110 hurdles and 1-2-4-5 in the 400 hurdles.
During the 2022 campaign, Venable guided Ayanna Johnson to a 19th-place finish in the NCAA outdoor women’s long jump final. Johnson long jumped 20-8 earlier in the season to shatter the outdoor program record that had stood since 1984.
In 2021, Venable coached Quinten Clay to three ASUN titles (indoor long jump and outdoor long jump and high jump). Makenzy Mizera qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials in the triple jump after breaking the event’s program records both indoors (42-8) and outdoors (42-6).
Venable also oversaw a deep and talented group of men’s hurdlers. Liberty went 1-2-3-4 in the ASUN men’s 60 hurdles final and 2-3-4 in the ASUN men’s 110 hurdles final, with six different Flames recording ASUN top-four finishes in one of the two events.
In 2020, Jovaine Atkinson and Mizera headlined Venable’s training group. Atkinson won the ASUN men’s 60 hurdles title and ranked No. 18 nationally in the event. Mizera was the ASUN women’s long jump champion during a season where she took down program records in both the long jump (19-4.75) and triple jump (41-10.75).
Venable also spurred on the rapid development of a trio of men’s freshmen. Erick Johnson added a foot to his long jump personal best to win the ASUN title at 23-8.75. Felix Lawrence dropped his 60 hurdles time from 8.21 to 7.95 during the season. Meanwhile, high jump novice Quinten Clay reached 6-8.75.
During 2018, Venable coached Jovaine Atkinson to a fourth-place finish in the NCAA men’s 60 hurdles final and a record-breaking time of 7.64. He also helped Darrel Jones close out his collegiate career with a trip to the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships in the men’s triple jump. Kimone Green and Branson Rolle swept the Big South women’s and men’s 400 hurdles title and each qualified for the NCAA Division I East Preliminary Round meet, with Rolle doing so as a true freshman.
Venable enjoyed immediate success at Liberty, as his athletes won six Big South event titles in 2017 and broke six different school records. These included the men’s 60 hurdles (Jovaine Atkinson), men’s 110 hurdles (Atkinson), men’s indoor shuttle hurdles relay, men’s indoor triple jump (Darrel Jones), women’s indoor triple jump (Janae Jones) and women’s 400 hurdles (Mary Witmer).
Venable served as assistant track & field coach/recruiting coordinator for Oral Roberts, focusing on the jumps, hurdles, short sprints and throws. He coached a number of standout performers, including two All-Americans, eight qualifiers to the NCAA Division I West Preliminary Round meet and 13 Southland Conference champions.
Prior to his time at Oral Roberts, Venable spent five seasons (2007-12) as head track & field/cross country coach at Bacone College. He reestablished the program in January 2007 and quickly guided his team to success. The Bacone men’s track & field team captured Red River Conference titles in both 2009 and 2012, and Venable was named Red River Conference Coach of the Year both times. Additionally, his men’s track & field squad placed inside the top 25 at both the NAIA Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field Championships in 2012.
During Venable’s five years at Bacone, he coached 17 NAIA All-Americans, three NAIA Academic All-Americans, 65 NAIA national qualifiers, 15 Red River Conference champions, 103 all-conference honorees and 47 academic all-conference award winners.
Venable began his collegiate coaching career at his alma mater, Oral Roberts, working as a volunteer assistant track & field coach for the 2005-06 season.
As an athlete, Venable started out as a middle and long distance runner at Oral Roberts before transitioning to the pole vault and decathlon later in his career. He served as team captain and earned two Mid-Continent all-conference honors as a senior. During Venable’s time on the squad, Oral Roberts captured four Mid-Continent Conference championships.
The native of Owasso, Okla., owns three degrees and is working toward a fourth. He graduated from Oral Roberts with a bachelor’s degree in theology – New Testament Biblical literature in 2005. Four years later, Venable earned a master’s degree in theology – Judeo-Christian Studies from Oral Roberts. He then graduated with a master’s degree in secondary education – sports administration from East Central University in 2018. Venable is currently beginning work toward a Ph.D. in educational leadership at Liberty.
Venable has also shown a commitment to education within the sport of track & field, winning both the 2020 Fred Wilt/Educator of the Year Award and the 2015 Vern Gambetta Coaching Education Award from USA Track & Field (USATF). Since 2013, he has served as the USATF Coaching Education Southeast Regional Coordinator. Venable spends 8-10 weekends each year instructing USATF Level 1 and Level 2 schools, primarily teaching the jumping events.
Venable is an IAAF Level 5/USATF Level 3 certified in jumping events, sprinting events and combined events. He is also a USTFCCCA Strength & Conditioning Coach and a National Pole Vault Coaches Association (NPVCA) Certified Coach.
Venable and his wife, Ashley, have three sons, Keegan, Kolton and Kingston.
