Davina Orieukwu enters her seventh season with UMBC heading into the 2025-2026 season. She comes from Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Louisiana, where she served as the throws coach from 2015 to 2019. Since her arrival, the UMBC throws squad has seen incredible growth with notable standout athletes.
Since stepping on campus in the fall of 2022, Iosif Papa’s journey has been one of consistent excellence and record-breaking performance. Papa is the school and America East record holder in men’s discus with a throw of 59.12m (193’11”) at the 2025 Maryland Invite. Papa finished 9th at the NCAA East Regional Preliminary meet, earning him a trip to the 2025 NCAA Championships, where he finished 17th and earned Honorable Mention All-American status. Papa is a three-time consecutive NCAA East Regional qualifier. His America East Conference titles in 2023 and 2025 underscore his dominance in the ring.
Under Orieukwu’s guidance, Ava Roberts shattered the school record in the women’s shot put with a throw of 16.74m (54’11.25”), previously held by 4x Olympian and UMBC Hall of Famer, Cleopatra Borel. Roberts also broke the school record in the discus with a throw of 50.34m (165’2”). Her 2024 season was a highlight reel— claiming the prestigious Penn Relays Championship title in shot put, qualifying for the NCAA East Regional, and winning conference titles in both indoor shot put and outdoor discus. Ava was named the 2024 America East Female Field Performer of the Meet, a reflection of her relentless work ethic and competitive spirit.
From 2022-2024, Gabriel Koletsi’s consistency and competitiveness made him a dominant force in the javelin with the second-best throw in UMBC history with 69.24m (227’2). Koletsi was a two-time NCAA East Regional qualifier and the 2024 America East Conference Champion. Toren Burr has proven to be a dual threat with his success in the hammer and javelin, showcasing his potential with a 2025 NCAA East Regional qualification and a runner-up finish at the America East Conference Championship in the javelin.
Marie Abongwa’s efforts in 2024-2025 culminated in a record-breaking season. She set a new school record in the women’s hammer throw with a mark of 55.20m (181’1”) at the 2025 Outdoor America East Outdoor Championship, and captured both indoor and outdoor America East Conference titles in the women’s shot put. Her outstanding performance earned her the title of Female Field Performer of the Meet at the 2025 America East Outdoor championships. UMBC claimed the top two spots in the indoor women’s shot during the America East Championship, collecting 18 critical points towards the team finish.
Andrew Haberman brought home the 2021 America East Conference Championship title in the hammer throw, with a throw of 59.02m (193’8”), setting the tone for future success in the program.
Orieukwu’s first indoor championship season saw Emmanouil Kamtsiklis earn a runner-up finish in the weight throw at the 2020 America East Indoor Championship. Maurice Johnson also earned a runner-up finish in the men’s shot put at the same championship.
Prior to her arrival at UMBC, Orieukwu’s tenure at Louisiana Tech included Malek Evans, who finished second place in the weight throw at the 2019 Conference USA Indoor Championship, his throw of 20.29m (66’7”), which was also a school record. Evans also threw the hammer 193’0 in the hammer. Other school record holders under Orieukwu’s tutelage are hammer thrower Liza Wall, who threw 55.15m (180’11).
Orieukwu also worked with Tyler Griggers. Griggers was a 3 time Conference USA scorer and went on to qualify for the 2018 NCAA First Round East Region. Freshman Jon Burrell earned a podium finish in third place with a personal best of 62.47m (204’11”) at the 2019 Conference USA Outdoor Championships. Orieukwu coached Tripp Marcus during his redshirt freshman year to a huge personal best of 67.25m (220’8”). Rhea Thompson was another athlete with top conference finishes in the shot put and discus.
In her first season at Louisiana Tech, Orieukwu coached senior Aaron Orduno to a 3rd place finish at the 2016 Conference USA Indoor Championship with a throw of 58’10”.25. During the 2016 outdoor campaign, javelin thrower Camille Lott bested her previous personal record, throwing 44.35m (145’6”). Aprell Williams turned in a fourth-place finish in the hammer at the 2016 C-USA Outdoor Championship with a throw of 54.46m (178’8”).
Orieukwu came to Ruston after serving as the track and field coach at Norman (Okla.) High School for two years while also jointly serving as the coach at Alcott (Okla.) Middle School. At Norman High, Orieukwu coached Oklahoma's 2014 discus and 2015 shot put state champion, Marissa Fleck, in her sophomore and junior years, respectively. Before that, she was a volunteer coach with the Sonics Youth Track and Field Club in Houston, where she coached two Junior Olympic medalists.
Orieukwu got her coaching start at Sam Houston State during the 2012 season. At Sam Houston, she coached Morgan Davis to an SLC Indoor title in the pentathlon and a silver medal in the outdoor heptathlon. At the same time, Preston Sanders won silver in the indoor shot put and bronze in the outdoor shot put at the SLC Championships. Hammer thrower Trevor Sealy also finished 3rd at the 2012 Southland Conference Championships. Both Sanders and Sealy went on to qualify for the 2012 NCAA West Region Preliminary meet. Decathlete Matt Johnson, also coached by Orieukwu, went on to compete at the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico -- finishing 10th in the decathlon with 6,929 points -- and also as a member of the 2012 USA Pan American Cup team that competed in Ottawa, Canada.
She holds certifications from the United States Track and Field Cross Country Association in Strength and Conditioning, Throws, Jumps, and Technical.
Orieukwu graduated from Ole Miss in 2010 with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. She was a member of the Rebels' track and field program from 2006 to 2010. While competing, she was a multiple-time All-SEC selection, four-time NCAA First Round Qualifier, and former school record holder in the women’s shot put with a throw of 16.84m (55’3”). She received her Master of Science in Criminal Justice Security Studies from Sam Houston State in 2012. Orieukwu earned a second Master of Education in Adult and Higher Education with an emphasis on Intercollegiate Athletic Administration from the University of Oklahoma in 2015. Orieukwu completed her Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership from Frostburg State University in May 2025.
