Fran Hoogestraat
Throws

Fran Hoogestraat enters her ninth season with the Vanderbilt track and field program. As the coach for the throwing events, Hoogestraat relies on her 13 years of competitive experience to help the Commodores excel.

A native of South Dakota, Hoogestraat set numerous state high school records before moving on to South Dakota State University. While in Brookings, Hoogestraat reached national rankings of ninth in the discus and 15th in the shot put among American women.

Hoogestraat has earned both Level I and Level II coaching certification from the USATF. In 1998, Hoogestraat served as a clinician of the Junior Elite Throws Camp at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in California.

Hoogestraat joined Vanderbilt in 1989, where she earned both a masters of education and a doctorate of education with particular emphasis in intercollegiate athletics. She is a senior academic counselor in the athletic department's Stratton Foster Center.

Aside from assisting several athletes in the Vanderbilt track and field program, Hoogestraat helped guide the career of shot putter Leslie Vidmar, a four-time All-American, with a career best of 53-1. Hoogestraat also coaches one of the Commodores' top current student-athletes, junior weight thrower Vensherrie Campbell, along with heptathletes Kyshia Ewing and Josie Hahn.

Fran is active with Fellowship of Christian Athletes on campus, and serves on the Board of Directors at the Nashville Rescue Mission.