Saturday, January 18, 2014

Hampton's Pierce Named Head Men's Coach of Team USA U-23

Maurice Pierce
Director of Track & Field
Hampton University
HAMPTON, Virginia   Hampton University Director of Track & Field Maurice Pierce has been named Head Men's Coach as part of the U.S. Track & Field National Team for the 2014 NACAC Under-23 Championships, it was announced on Thursday.

In his 12th season at Hampton, and his second coaching both programs, Pierce has won four Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) cross country titles (2004, '06, '10, '11), 10 MEAC indoor track & field titles (2003-09, '11-13) and nine MEAC outdoor championships (2003-04, '06-11, '13).

He guided the Pirates to the 2013 MEAC outdoor title, giving the men's program its first MEAC track & field title since 2003. The Lady Pirates swept the MEAC indoor and outdoor title last season, after coming in second in cross country.

Pierce, the 2008-09 Southeast Region Women's Head Coach of the Year as named by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), has coached 20 All-Americans and watched his student-athletes bring home five individual NCAA titles – two from Yvette Lewis in the triple jump and three from Francena McCorory in the 400-meter dash.

But Pierce's success isn't exclusive to Hampton.

He has also coached Olympic athletes – most recently, Pierce coached David Payne to the silver medal in the 110-meter hurdles at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. Pierce, considered one of the world's best hurdle coaches, has coached athletes in the last four Olympics – including the likes of former Pirate James Carter and Rachelle Boone-Smith.

Both athletes have won World Championships under Pierce.

Pierce, a native of Newport News, Va. and a graduate of Norfolk State, is also chair of the USATF Virginia Association Women Elite Athletes.

The 2014 NACAC Under-23 Championships will be held Aug. 8-10 in Kamloops, British Columbia.

For more information on Hampton University track & field, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.

COURTESY HAMPTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

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