Coach Brian Yokoyama brings 30+ years of experience to Mt. San Antonio College where he currently serves as the Director, Athletic Special Events. 

During his lengthy coaching tenure he worked with over 75 California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) State finalists including eleven State Champions (nine pole vaulters, two javelin throwers) and eleven State Runner-Up Finishers. Through the years he has coached nearly every event and has guided school record holders in the men’s and women’s Pole Vault and Javelin.

In 2016, Yokoyama received the ultimate honor from his peers, when he was inducted into the 5CTCA (California Community College Cross Country and Track Coaches Association) Hall of Fame along with legendary Mt. SAC Coaches Don Ruh, Hilmer Lodge, Dr. Ernie Gregoire and John Norton.

In 2013 and 2014, Yokoyama worked with the 100 and 110 meter hurdlers.  In his two years working with hurdlers, he guided 5 men and one woman to the CCCAA State Championships including two-time state runner up, SoCal Champion and South Coast Conference Athlete of the the year, Toure McCully.  He also guided 13 individuals (3 women and 10 men) to the Southern California Championships.   

During the 2010 and 2011 seasons, Yokoyama guided men's javelin college record holder, Adam Bianchessi, to a remarkable two-year run.  During that time, Bianchessi placed 4th in the 2010 State Championships, placed ninth in the 2010 USA Track and Field Junior National Championships and capped it off with an incredible 2011 campaign where he went undefeated in community college competition winning the conference, Southern California, California State and National Championships, along with the breaking the Mt. SAC and South Coast Conference Records.  Most amazing is the fact that Bianchessi had never competed in any organized sports prior to arriving at Mt. SAC.

From 1995 to 2007, Yokoyama also served as an Assistant Cross Country Coach, helping lead the Mountie Women to 3 State Championships and 8 top five finishes.  In 1996 and 1997, he served as the Women’s Track and Field Head Coach and led the team to a second place finish during the 1997 season.  

Yokoyama has guided three Mounties over the 17 foot barrier and 21 over the 16 foot barrier.

• Giovanni Lanaro - Future two time Olympian who entered Mt. SAC as an 11'06" pole vaulter and later cleared a school record of 17'06" to capture the National Community College Championship.
• Dustin Morrison - Two-Time CCCAA State Champion who cleared 17'01".  
• Jordan Savidge - 2007 CCCAA State Champion who cleared 17'00"1/2 to win

In 2001, he was named the National Collegiate Pole Vault Coach of the Year by the USA Track and Field Pole Vault Development. In 2007, he was named State Assistant Track and Field Coach of the Year by the California Community College Cross Country/Track Coaches Association and in 2008 he was named South Coast Conference Assistant Track and Field Coach of the Year by his peers.

Yokoyama is very active with the USA Track and Field National Team Development.  For the past 16 years, he has concurrently lead both the Men's and Women’s Pole Vaulters as the National Chairperson.  He has twice been named the Brooks Johnson USATF National Development Coach of the Year.  Yokoyama is also actively involved in running the USATF Pole Vault Summit (4,000 attendees in Reno, NV) and the NAPVA National Championships (8,000 Spectators) in Clovis, California as Co-Director.

Through the years, Yokoyama has worked/consulted with many top national and international pole vaulters including:

• Giovanni Lanaro-(19’01”-5.82M) 4th place at the 2006 IAAF World Indoor Championships, USA Community College Champion, California State Community College Champion, Mexican National Champion, Mexican National Record Holder, Pan American Record Holder, 3 time NCAA Division 1 All-American, 2004 and 2008 Mexican Olympian
• Daichi Sawano-(19’01.5”-5.83M) 2006 IAAF World Ranking #4, Japanese Record Holder, 2004 Olympic Finalist, 2004, 2008 and 2016 Olympian 
• Rob Pike-(18’06.5”-5.65M) 3 time Canadian National Champion, 2001 World Championship Competitor
• Tim Mack-(19’08.5”-6.01M) 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist, 2004 Number One World Ranking, Olympic Record Holder, US Olympic Trials Record Holder, US National Champion
• Teruyasu Yonekura-(18’04.5”-5.60M) Former Japanese Record Holder, 1996 Atlanta Olympian
• Manabu Yokoyama-(18’08.25”-5.70M) Former Japanese Record Holder, 2000 Sydney Olympian
• Jeff Ryan-(18’05.5”-5.62M) NCAA Division 1 All-American, Top 10 US Ranking
• Jason Hinkin-(18'08.25"-5.70M) NCAA Division 1 Indoor Champion, 5 Time NCAA Division 1 All-American, Long Beach State School Record Holder and Hall of Famer Member
• Tyler Wallace-(18'02.50 - 5.55M) Yokoyama's Greatest Achievement in Coaching.  He tuned the Toyota to run with the Ferrari's!

Yokoyama is currently coaching/consulting with a number of elite American, Japanese, Korean and Taiwanese Pole Vaulters.

Yokoyama is an active speaker and has presented at numerous top clinics throughout the US and the world including the USA Track and Field Coaches Association National Clinic, USATF Podium Education Project, LA84 Foundation Track and Field Clinics, Japanese National Pole Vault Camp, Taiwan National Pole Vault Conference, Arizona State High School Coaches Clinic, All-Sports Clinic, MSI Track and Field Clinic, Wisconsin State Coaches Clinic, Singapore Athletic Federation Pole Vault Clinic and Helena Montana Pole Vault Clinic.

Prior to arriving at Mt. SAC, Yokoyama served as an Assistant Coach at Lynwood High School (Lynwood, CA). Through the years his high school pole vaulters have made 11 California State High School Championship Finals (top 9) appearances. He has also worked with a number of top High School Decathletes including two of the greatest Decathletes of all-time, Donovan Kilmartin and Marcell Allmond, who at that time held the #1 and #2 high school decathlon scores of all-time.

In the community college ranks, he served as the South Coast Conference Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Representative and was an Executive Board Member of both the Southern California and State Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association for over 7 years.

Previously, Yokoyama served as the Division of Kinesiology, Athletics and Dance Information Director, Professor, Head Track & Field Coach, Assistant Track and Field/Cross Country Coach, Mt. SAC Relays Special Projects Director and Mt. SAC Cross Country Invitational Community College Director.  Outside of athletics, he also served in other capacities including Marketing Director of the Performing Arts Center where he presented professional shows and lead marketing efforts for the centers shows and events.  

Yokoyama received his Bachelors Degree in Kinesiology from Cal Poly Pomona. In his spare time, Yokoyama enjoys spending time with his family, cooking and traveling.  Coach Yokoyama and his lovely wife, Shinobu (Yamamoto), reside in Pomona with their children, daughters, Raechel and Daphne and son, Braeden.

updated on 03/14/23