Former William & Mary standout Taylor Frenia ’17 returned to Williamsburg in September 2026 as an assistant coach, overseeing the throwing events.
Frenia returned to his alma mater after spending eight years as an assistant track & field coach at Christopher Newport, where he developed one of the most successful throwing groups in the program’s history.
During his tenure with the Captains, Frenia coached four All-Americans who combined for seven All-America performances, while his athletes captured 44 individual conference championships.
Under Frenia’s guidance, Christopher Newport throwers established seven school records across the men’s and women’s throwing events. Those records came in the men’s and women’s discus, men’s indoor shot put, men’s and women’s weight throw and men’s and women’s hammer throw. He also coached numerous athletes to top-10 marks in program history across the shot put, weight throw, discus and hammer throw.
In addition to overseeing the Captains’ throwers, Frenia assisted with the development of training and strength and conditioning programs, recruiting and the organization of practices, meets and events.
Frenia enjoyed a decorated career as a student-athlete at William & Mary, culminating with CAA Men’s Track & Field Co-Athlete of the Year honors in 2017. During his final season, he tied the program record by setting eight school records during the academic year and became the first man since 1992 to sweep the shot put, discus and hammer throw at the CAA Outdoor Championships. His performance earned him CAA Field Athlete of the Championships honors and gave him seven career conference titles.
He capped his collegiate career by advancing to the NCAA semifinals in both the shot put and discus, finishing 16th in the shot put and 21st in the discus.
Frenia remains prominently featured throughout the William & Mary record book. His school-record discus throw of 58.70m (192-7), set at the 2017 CAA Championships, still stands atop the program’s all-time list. He also ranks third in program history in the outdoor shot put at 18.35m (60-2.5) and eighth in the hammer throw at 58.50m (191-11).
A 2017 William & Mary graduate, Frenia earned his bachelor’s degree in biology and kinesiology and health sciences. He holds a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist certification through the National Strength and Conditioning Association and a USATF Level 1 certification.
Frenia and his wife, former Tribe thrower Leia Mistowski Frenia ’18, have a son, Bryson.
