Jennifer Darville brings throwing philosophy to Xavier

CEDAR RAPIDS — A new approach to an old skill can bring more success.

Jennifer Darville became the new throwing coach for the Xavier track teams this season. She was a thrower at Northern Iowa, graduating in 2003.

While working at Collins Aerospace, she coached throwing at Kennedy High School and then Mount Mercy University. After taking a break from coaching and moving to Houston for her job, Darville returned to Cedar Rapids in 2019.

“After moving back to Cedar Rapids, I knew I wanted to get back into coaching,” Darville said. “I knew Coach (Bryan) Jones from Mount Mercy and he reached out when the throwing coach position became open (at Xavier).”

Darville has set goals for her throwers as she steps into this new job.

“My main goal for the throwers is to improve each day and each meet,” Darville said. “I believe in the idea of 10,000 touches to master anything, so we throw a lot and try to work on, maximum of one or two, main changes or corrections at practice.”

This part of Darville’s philosophy has made an impact on senior Briona Charipar.

“She (Darville) is helping me this season by allowing me to have more reps, so I feel more confident during meets,” Charipar said. “It also allows me to have more of an opportunity to figure out the form because I have had to limit my reps … due to injury.”

Darville has more facets to her coaching philosophy.

“My philosophy also includes positive reinforcement and small incremental corrections,” Darville said. “For throwers, overall body strength and coordination is also important, so we put work in the weight room as well as the ring.”

Junior Kealey Oldham has benefited from how Darville runs practices.

“My coach (Darville) really listens to what we feel like we are struggling with and comes up with drills to help us,” Oldham said. “She also makes sure everyone gets enough time personally to improve by giving us all enough throws and weight lifting time.”

Even though Darville has only been at Xavier for a short time, her coaching philosophy, gained through her experiences at UNI and Mount Mercy, is helping the throwers achieve all of the goals they set for this season.