Gabe Rivera enters his third season as an assistant coach for the UIC track and field program. Rivera works primarily as the Flames' sprint and hurdle coach.
Prior to joining the Flames, Rivera started his coaching career at the College of DuPage (COD) in 2005, where he worked primarily with the horizontal jumps. In 2006, he helped guide the COD to an NJCAA III national title, while coaching national champions in the 100m. and 4X100 m. relay. From COD, Rivera helped expand Eastern New Mexico University's track and field program in 2007-2008. While at the NCAA II level, he worked with athletes who provisionally qualified for the NCAA Division II Championships in men's triple jump, men's and women's javelin and men's 4X400-meter relay.
Since arriving at UIC, Rivera has worked with sprints, hurdles and horizontal jumps. In his first two years at UIC, Rivera has coached two-time conference champion Andy Wall in the triple jump. He also coached Lauren Fogarty to the 2009 Horizon League title in the long jump. Additionally, Rivera has coached the 2010 men's 4X100-meterrelay team to a conference title, as well as athletes who have earned runner-up finishes in the 100m, 200m, 110m hurdles and triple jump.
As an athlete, Rivera was a member of the COD Track and Field squad from 2000-01 where he competed in the 100- and 200-meter races, as well as long jump. From 2002-04, he was a member of the UIC track and field program. Rivera earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from UIC in 2004. He finished work on his Master's in Physical Education with a focus on Exercise Science in 2009.
