Aggies Add Two-Time Olympian Nikfar as Assistant Coach
Aug 11, 2025 | Track and Field
BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION – Texas A&M track & field head coach Pat Henry announced the addition of two-time Olympian Amin Nikfar to his staff as an assistant coach Monday. Nikfar will lead the Aggie throws group.
"Coach [Amin] Nikfar brings a wealth of experience and knowledge of the throwing events to our program," Henry said. "I have known him and watched his athletes compete at a very high level for a number of years. I believe not only in his ability to coach, but his ability to communicate with his athletes and I know he will work well with our staff."
Nikfar joins the Aggies from North Carolina after leading the Tar Heels throws group for the past six seasons. During his time in Chapel Hill, he guided his athletes to 14 All-America honors, highlighted by a runner-up finish from Tommy Kitchell in the shot put at the men's 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships, and a pair of third-place finishes at the women's outdoor nationals, courtesy of Madison Wiltrout in the javelin and Jill Shippee in the hammer throw, in 2022 and 2021, respectively. His groups also stood out on the conference level, securing nine individual ACC titles across the indoor and outdoor seasons.
"Texas A&M is a storied track & field program, and it is a great honor to join the work that is happening in Aggieland," Nikfar said. "I'd like to thank Coach Henry, his staff and the athletic department for the opportunity to join the ranks. I feel fortunate to be able to uphold the high standards that have been set and contribute to the team."
Prior to UNC, Nikfar served as an assistant coach at Stanford where he was named the 2019 USTFCCCA West Region's Women's Assistant Coach of the Year for his work with his four women's NCAA Outdoor Championship competitors. He also spent time coaching at Southeastern Louisiana, the University of New Orleans, St. Francis High School and adds a pair of volunteer coaching roles at Northern Arizona and his alma mater, California.
Nikfar, a shot put standout, competed in the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympic Games and appeared in two IAAF World Championships. He was a nine-time Iranian national champion and broke national records six times. He was the 2004 Asian Indoor Athletics champion, and his collegiate-best mark still ranks No. 8 on the Cal's all-time list. His lifetime best of 65-9.5 (20.05 meters) from 2011 remains an Iranian national record.
Coach Henry also announced new roles within the current staff for the 2025-26 season, as Olivia Ekponé now takes on the role of assistant coach/recruiting coordinator, while assistant coach Joe Sarra will now also serve as the team's director of operations.
To learn more about Texas A&M Track & Field/Cross Country, visit 12thMan.com and follow @aggietfxc.
"Coach [Amin] Nikfar brings a wealth of experience and knowledge of the throwing events to our program," Henry said. "I have known him and watched his athletes compete at a very high level for a number of years. I believe not only in his ability to coach, but his ability to communicate with his athletes and I know he will work well with our staff."
Nikfar joins the Aggies from North Carolina after leading the Tar Heels throws group for the past six seasons. During his time in Chapel Hill, he guided his athletes to 14 All-America honors, highlighted by a runner-up finish from Tommy Kitchell in the shot put at the men's 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships, and a pair of third-place finishes at the women's outdoor nationals, courtesy of Madison Wiltrout in the javelin and Jill Shippee in the hammer throw, in 2022 and 2021, respectively. His groups also stood out on the conference level, securing nine individual ACC titles across the indoor and outdoor seasons.
"Texas A&M is a storied track & field program, and it is a great honor to join the work that is happening in Aggieland," Nikfar said. "I'd like to thank Coach Henry, his staff and the athletic department for the opportunity to join the ranks. I feel fortunate to be able to uphold the high standards that have been set and contribute to the team."
Prior to UNC, Nikfar served as an assistant coach at Stanford where he was named the 2019 USTFCCCA West Region's Women's Assistant Coach of the Year for his work with his four women's NCAA Outdoor Championship competitors. He also spent time coaching at Southeastern Louisiana, the University of New Orleans, St. Francis High School and adds a pair of volunteer coaching roles at Northern Arizona and his alma mater, California.
Nikfar, a shot put standout, competed in the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympic Games and appeared in two IAAF World Championships. He was a nine-time Iranian national champion and broke national records six times. He was the 2004 Asian Indoor Athletics champion, and his collegiate-best mark still ranks No. 8 on the Cal's all-time list. His lifetime best of 65-9.5 (20.05 meters) from 2011 remains an Iranian national record.
Coach Henry also announced new roles within the current staff for the 2025-26 season, as Olivia Ekponé now takes on the role of assistant coach/recruiting coordinator, while assistant coach Joe Sarra will now also serve as the team's director of operations.
To learn more about Texas A&M Track & Field/Cross Country, visit 12thMan.com and follow @aggietfxc.
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