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Eric Johannigmeier is in his fourth year with the Virginia Tech track and field staff as the assistant cross country/distance coach after serving as a volunteer assistant for the Hokies from 2011-13.

Johannigmeier works extensively with the runners in their preparation for events, while also playing a large part in recruiting and handling any assigned day-to-day administrative duties. He played an important role in the development of the Hokies’ distance runners in 2017, as the contingent played instrumental roles in the Virginia Tech men’s team winning the ACC team title at both league meets and the women’s team taking home the league crown during the outdoor season. Seven of them won individual ACC championships, and the overall collection of distance runners earned 14 All-America honors combined during the indoor and outdoor campaigns.

Hanna Green headlined the 2017 group, as she won three ACC titles and was a silver medalist in the 800-meter run at both NCAA Championships (indoor and outdoor). Green earned first-team All-America honors during the indoor and outdoor seasons and departed as a six-time All-American. On the men’s side, Drew Piazza also was a two-time, first-team All-American in 2017 and nearly won the school’s first national title in distance running, finishing second in the 800 at the 2017 NCAA Indoor Championships. Neil Gourley was a two-time, first-team All-American as well.

In 2015-16, Johannigmeier worked with standout runner Thomas Curtin, who earned All-America honors in all three disciplines during the 2015-16 season (cross country, indoor track and outdoor track). Curtin won the ACC cross country title and also added ACC titles in the 5,000- and 10,000-meter runs during the outdoor season. In 2015, Curtin earned three All-America nods in track (two indoor, one outdoor).

In the fall of 2015, Johannigmeier and head cross country coach Ben Thomas guided the Tech men’s team to an NCAA berth, and the Hokies finished 27th as a team in just the program’s second NCAA appearance since 1987. In the fall of 2014, he and Thomas led the Tech women’s cross country team to an NCAA berth and a top-25 finish. The NCAA appearance marked just the second in the program’s history.

While a volunteer assistant at Tech, Johannigmeier was a part of three ACC Championships, two in track and one in cross country. He also helped the Hokie men to a fifth-place finish at the 2012 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Prior to his time with the Hokies, Johannigmeier was an undergraduate assistant for the University of Illinois track and field program. During his year there, the outdoor track and field team finished 11th at the NCAA Championships, and the cross country team came in fifth at the Midwest Regional.

Before serving as an undergraduate assistant at the University of Illinois, Johannigmeier participated in both cross country and track and field for the Fighting Illini.

In addition to coaching, Johannigmeier has worked as a civil engineer.

Johannigmeier holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Illinois and a master’s degree in civil engineering from Virginia Tech.