MOBILE, Ala. – "The way I was raised, my parents have always pushed me to be the best I can be in absolutely everything that I do."

That statement came from the University of South Alabama's Jan-Louw Kotze just days before departing for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship.  Surely Pieter and Erika Kotze would be extremely proud to know that their son, doing his best to fulfill those wishes, has lived up to those expectations both in and out of competition.

As a junior in 2015, Kotze was honorable mention All-America in the discus after finishing 20th at the national championship.  Not only did he qualify for the NCAA Championship for the first time in his Jaguar career, he won the event at the Sun Belt Conference championship with a 59.72m toss — a school and league record — while also earning all-conference honors with a third-place finish in the hammer throw and coming in fourth in the shot put.  And with a 4.00 grade-point average as an exercise science and psychology major, Kotze was named third-team Academic All-American following the season.

"That is one of the hardest things about being an athlete; you have to balance hundreds of things while trying to be great in all of them," Kotze said of his ability to not only stay on top of his school work but to compete with the best in the nation.

On the surface, Kotze's junior season could be considered among the best put together by a Jaguar in throws competition.   He has followed up this spring by extending the school record in the discus with a throw of 62.11m at the Pepsi Florida Relays that ranks among the top five in the nation this year.  Kotze was the highest collegiate finisher in the event at the Triton Invitational three weeks later before going on to win the SBC title for the fourth year in a row.  His mark at the league meet of 58.52m was over four meters better than the runner-up.

Now his hope is to use last year's experience — as well as his motivation from failing to reach nationals in 2014 — for a better result on Friday at the NCAA Championship. Kotze is scheduled to participate in the second of two flights, with the competition set to begin at 7:05 p.m. (CDT).  Although Kotze placed 20th at the national meet last spring, he did not walk away satisfied and has set higher goals for himself this time around.

"Last year I did not do as well as I wanted," he said.  "I would not say I have prepared more — I always try my very best in preparation — but this time I feel more confident in my preparation.  Personally it [a personal-best throw at the national championship] would be mission accomplished, it's everything I've worked for up to this point. 

"That is what I have wanted to do, but it is still only a step in the great journey that still lies ahead."

While the main goal may be to place higher in the final event standings, Kotze has another reason behind his desire to succeed.  One that gives any individual unfamiliar with Kotze an idea of how selfless he is.

"Renaldo [Frechou] placed top five [last year], which is very good, but we haven't had someone on the podium at nationals in a decade," he said.  "[South Alabama] Athletics have become better since [Director of Athletics] Dr. [Joel] Erdmann arrived, but we need more national performances, and if possible I would love to contribute to that."

Regardless of Friday's results, Kotze will have left his mark on the USA track and field program in many different ways according to Brueske.

"We always strive to improve our records, and Jan-Louw has been outstanding in that regard, every year he has been here.  He has helped us establish a high standard for performance," he explained.  "A rising tide raises all the ships.  When he works hard the younger athletes see his level of commitment and work ethic, and in turn it typically helps them.

"He is a very valuable member of the program.  Not only is he an Academic All-American, but he has helped us with recruiting.  He does not say a lot, he leads by example."

Originally from Paarl, Western Cape, South Africa, Kotze — now standing at 6-foot-1 and 230 pounds — started competing in track and field as an eight-year-old.  He would go on to earn four letters in the sport at Paarl Gymnasium High, and in 2011 placed fifth at the IAAF World Youth Championships in Lille, France.  So how did Kotze end up in Mobile?

Jaguar head coach Paul Brueske credits a staple in the day-to-day life of teenagers all over the world — the internet.

"I began to recruit Jan-Louw through the internet," he said.  "I looked through the South African junior national rankings, sent him a friend request on social media and that is where the process began."

With his performance on the national and international level, Kotze had suitors other than South Alabama.  But Brueske's initial contact made a strong first impression, and the relationship with Kotze developed quickly from there.

"There were some other universities, including other schools in the Sun Belt.  And in earlier stages [of recruiting] I spoke with some schools from the SEC and Pac 12," Kotze said.  "But those didn't really progress because the one with South Alabama went so well."

Kotze arrived on campus in January 2013 and wasted little time making an impact on the program.  His best throw of the year was a 57.60m effort at the Jaguar Invitational, and he would go on to win the discus at the Sun Belt Championship with a 54.90m toss before finishing 15th at the NCAA East Region Preliminaries.

As a sophomore Kotze improved his best mark in the event to 58.41m at the Jaguar Opener.  After earning another SBC title with a 56.20m throw, he had a 57.03m mark at the NCAA East Region Preliminary Round.  While that was good enough to improve two spots in the final standings, it also left him one shy of advancing to nationals.

"The tragedy of 2014, as I finished 13th, was that as far as we know that was the highest mark ever to not make it [to the NCAA Championship]," Kotze recalled.  "I guess it is bad luck in a way, you can do all the preparation but sometimes things do not go your way; that was a super year in our region, in any other year I may have made it." 

From his marks as a freshman to his performance this spring, Kotze has found a way to steadily improve on a year-to-year basis.  Brueske gives the credit for that to Kotze.

"He deserves all the credit, he has worked extremely hard," said Brueske.  "He has had minor setbacks here and there, but has not let it get to him.  He keeps plugging away and because of that he has continued to improve.  If you keep plugging away and working hard, eventually good things will happen.  He was around 53 meters coming in, and now he is just above 62 meters.

"Jan-Louw is self-motivating and a very intelligent young man.  I just try to encourage him, help him where I can and not get in his way."

With his performance in and out of competition, Kotze will have options beyond next spring; he will finish his collegiate eligibility at the conclusion of the 2017 indoor season, then earn his degree from South in May.  With his performance in the classroom — which earned Kotze the Elite 90 award at the NCAA Outdoor Men's Track and Field Championship on Wednesday — he has an interest in continuing his education at USA.

"When it is over, I am going to start another degree, and when that is over I will study more and start another degree," Kotze stated.  "I love the college experience."

But those plans may have to wait.  With his 62.11m mark at the Florida Relays, Kotze is currently less than three meters from meeting the Olympic qualification standard in the discus.  If he were to build on his record of steady improvement displayed during his four years at South, Kotze will have the ability to continue competing on the international level while chasing a childhood dream.

"It is something I have always wanted to do, since I was very young," he said.  "I remember watching the 2004 Olympic Games, and 2008 in Beijing, and I remember thinking what it would be like if I could compete there."

His parents have always pushed him, he has consistently improved, and he is — in the words of Brueske — a young man of faith.  He flourishes in the classroom.  An amount of hard work has been invested, and setbacks have added to the motivation.  Now as Jan-Louw Kotze returns to the national stage, his hope is that combination of factors will help him do his best in his final collegiate outdoor meet.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

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