UAPB Athletics Announces Staff Additions

Pine Bluff, AR - The University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff Department of Athletics has announced the additions of Nyeshia Aldridge and Christopher McCoy for the 2011-12 athletic season.

Aldridge has been named interim head volleyball coach while McCoy is set to take over the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Cross Country and Track and Field programs serving as head coach for both the men's and women's programs.

Last season Aldridge served as an assistant coach for the Lady Lions volleyball team. Arkansas-Pine Bluff finished the regular season in second place in the SWAC's Western division marking the programs highest finish in school history.

The Texas native played a significant role in the programs overall operations assisting with running practices in addition to providing instruction on the court. Under the direction of Aldridge UAPB's Britta Wilmers was named to the 2010 SWAC All-Conference team while also being named the conference Player of the Week (9/20-9/24).

Prior to being named head coach Cross Country and Track and Field coach at UAPB McCoy spent three years as an assistant coach with the Hampton University women's track & field program. His responsibilities included coaching the sprint athletes, while also implementing the team's strength and conditioning programs.

Before arriving at Hampton, McCoy spent three years (2006-09) as an assistant track & field coach at Bethune-Cookman University, while also serving as a volunteer strength and conditioning coach for the Wildcats. At Bethune-Cookman, he coached sprints, hurdles, jumps, throwing events and multi events, while also designing and implementing the teams' strength and conditioning programs.

He began his coaching career at St. Augustine's as a part-time assistant for three years, before he moved on to Murray State where he served as a graduate assistant and coached jumpers and hurdlers in 2002 and 2003. McCoy returned to St. Augustine's from 2003-04, where he served as assistant track & field coach and assistant strength and conditioning coach.

McCoy graduated from St. Augustine's College in 2000 with a bachelor's degree in Human Performance and Wellness. While at St. Augustine's, McCoy primarily ran the 200-meter dash and 400-meter dash, and he earned All-CIAA honors six times. He was also named an NCAA Div. II All-American in the 400-meter dash and the 4x400-meter relay.

A native of West Memphis, Ark., McCoy is a member of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, and he is a certified Level I and II coach; he earned the designation in sprints, hurdles and relays in 2005, and in jumps in 2007.

By University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Sports Information
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