Monday, September 23, 2019
PORTLAND, Ore. – Jarred Rome, who served as an assistant track and field coach and director of the Concordia Throws Center for five seasons, passed away unexpectedly in Everett, Washington, on Sept. 21. Rome was 42-years-old.
A former Olympian, Rome coached Cavalier throwers from 2013-18, and played a major role in elevating CU's track program to a national scale.
"Having the opportunity to work side by side with Jarred for five years was truly a blessing as he cared so deeply about the student-athletes that he worked with," said CU head track and field coach Jerret Mantalas. "He had a way of connecting with athletes of all abilities and finding a way for them to have the confidence to thrive. What has been remarkable over the last 24 hours is seeing the outpouring of people that Jarred touched. With his time coaching collegiately and as the director of the Ironwood Throws camp, he has impacted the lives of so many people. Jarred will truly be missed but I believe the impact he has had on so many young people will be felt for a long time."
Rome was recently promoted to a full-time assistant position at Boston University after serving in a part-time role as the Terriers' throws coach for the 2018-19 season. He was the husband of BU Athletic Hall of Fame inductee Pam Spuehler '08.
In his five years at Concordia, Rome coached five national champions, 33 All-Americans, 34 conference champions, 12 conference record holders and two national championship meet record holders. In 2017, he coached the NCAA Division II national record holder in the indoor shot put, McKenzie Warren, with a mark of 57 feet, 9.75 inches. For his efforts, Rome was named 2018 USTFCCCA Women's National Assistant Coach of the Year.
In addition to his coaching achievements, Rome was the 2004 USA Olympic Trials Champion and competed at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens and the 2012 Games in London. He also represented the USA on four World Championships teams (2005, 2007, 2009, 2011) while finishing in the top three at the USA Championships nine times. During that span, he also competed at four straight Olympic Trials (2000, 2004, 2008, 2012) and took home a silver medal in the discus at the 2011 Pam American Games.
Rome was ranked in the top-five on the USA performance list in the discus for 14 straight years (2000-13) and was the nation's No. 1 ranked thrower in 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2011. He climbed to a No. 3 world ranking in 2011 with a career-best mark of 225-7 (68.76m). He was also ranked top 10 in the world in the shot put during three different seasons with a career-best mark of 67-0 (20.40m).
Rome also coached at several national throwing camps across the country and served as the director of the Iron Wood Thrower Development Camp in Idaho while also directing the Jarred Rome Throws Clinic at multiple locations across the country. In 2014, he started the Iron Wood TC Classic, which featured the top three Olympic/National and high school level throwers in the nation for a two-day competition.
A six-time NCAA Division I All-American while competing for Boise State University, Rome earned three national distinctions in the shot put and three in the discus, becoming the most decorated track & field athlete in school history. Rome also captured three Big West Conference championships in the discus, winning the title in 1997, 1998 and 2000. He concluded his collegiate career with personal records of 62-6 in the indoor shot put, 63-11 3/4 in the outdoor shot put and 210-0 in the discus.
Rome graduated from Boise State in 2000 with a degree in business administration and earned his M.B.A. in 2003. He was named to the Boise State University's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007. He was inducted into the Snohomish County Hall of Fame in his home state of Washington the Wednesday before his death.