Brenton Emanuel

Brenton Emanuel was named USC assistant coach for sprints by Director of Track & Field and Cross Country, Quincy Watts, on Aug. 8.

“It gives me great pleasure to welcome Brenton Emanuel, his wife Jessica, and their family to the Trojan Family,” said Watts. “Brenton is an outstanding coach. His leadership, and reputation in the track community for cultivating and developing champions at the highest level are impressive. I am truly blessed to have Brenton join the USC Track and Field family.”

Emanuel has served the last three seasons as the assistant coach for men’s and women’s sprint hurdles and relays at Nebraska where his athletes set six school records. He guided Darius Luff to the 2024 NCAA 110m hurdles title with a school-record time of 13.19 (+0.1). Emanuel guided his athletes to 13 All-America honors in his three seasons, as well as leading 11 Nebraska runners to All-Big Ten honors.

Emanuel was named USTFCCCA Midwest Region Assistant Coach of the Year and twice he helped lead Nebraska to Big Ten team titles.

“It is an honor to join such a prestigious program at USC,” said Emanuel. “I am so grateful for Coach Watts for opportunity to join the USC family. I would like to thank my wife, family, and the staff and athletes at the University of Nebraska. I cannot wait to give my all for USC and continue to help young men and women better themselves on and off the track Fight On!”

Prior to Nebraska, Emanuel served the 2019-21 seasons as the Director of Track & Field and Cross Country for Eastern Illinois, where he was three times named the Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year. His men’s teams won the OVC outdoor team title all three seasons and twice his men’s cross country teams won the OVC title, the school’s first in 15 seasons.

While at Eastern Illinois, he had 30 athletes post EIU all-time top 10 times, including school record-holders Pedra Hicks (400m H) and Danielle Frank (indoor 200m). He coached 30 athletes to OVC first-team honors and eight that advanced to the NCAA West Regional. He coached OVC Male Track Athlete of the Year in 2019-20 (Dustin Hatfield) and Adam Swanson in 2021.

Emanuel served the 2018 season as the associate head coach and recruiting coordinator for Illinois State and was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator from July 2014 through June 2017. While at ISU, Emanuel was named the USTFCCCA Midwest Regional Assistant Coach of the Year in 2018 and coached seven national qualifiers. He coached five All-Americans, 25 Missouri Valley Conference champions and 80 All-MVC honorees. Emanuel had three USATF junior qualifiers and his Illinois State athletes set 10 school records.

He was the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator in 2014 at California University of Pennsylvania. He coached two All-PSAC performers and one World Juniors qualifier.

Emanuel is a 2008 graduate of Eastern Illinois, where he competed for the men’s track team for four seasons. He served as a team captain and earned second-team All-OVC honors.

A native of Plainfield, Ill., Emanuel and his wife, Jessica, have three daughters, Brooklyn, Kamryn and Laila.