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Willie Randolph Position: Assistant Coach / Sprints & Hurdles Experience: 3rd season at U of L Alma Mater: Central Michigan University '98

Willie Randolph is in his third season as the sprints/hurdles coach with the University of Louisville track and field program. His responsibilties at UofL also include overseeing academics, alumni, public relations and fundraising.

Randolph's most recent success came in 2008 as Theresa Lewis and Heather Trimiew both qualified for the outdoor regional championships in the 100 and 400-meter hurdles, respectively. In addition, Steven Hnat and Tarah McKay earned BIG EAST Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence Awards for the men's and women's track & field programs while the Cards were recognized again when the USTFCCCA selected seven athletes to their All-Academic Team.

In 2006-07, Randolph coached four NCAA Mideast Regional qualifiers, Elisabeth Slettum (200m), Theresa Lewis (100m hurdles), Heather Trimiew (400m hurdles), and the women's 4x100 team as well as two BIG EAST title performances in the sprints and hurdles. The Cards' youthful sprints and hurdles crew set 11 school records, earned four NCAA provisional qualifiers and set multiple personal best times, while scoring more points than the previous two years combined. He was also instrumental in the Cardinal women's team's academic award after ranking 17th in the nation with a 3.41 team GPA.

He arrived in Louisville after serving three years as the head coach at the University of New Orleans where he coached several NCAA regional qualifiers and Sun Belt Conference champions. In 2006, the Privateers won four individual conference titles and had two NCAA Mideast Regional qualifiers. Overall, he had six conference runner-ups in the indoor women's 55m hurdles, the decathlon and the women's indoor and outdoor 200m.

While at UNO, Randolph coached Ruth Jepchirchir to Sun Belt titles in 2006 in the indoor 5km and 3km, the outdoor 10km (conference record time) and the individual cross country title. He also coached Omar Smith to his second career Sun Belt Conference title in the indoor 800m. In the classroom, the Privateers had numerous Sun Belt Commissioner's List honorees (GPA's of 3.5 or higher) and Honor Roll selections (3.0-3.49 GPA), while Priscilla Chapu won the UNO Female Student-Athlete of the Year award in 2003-04. He also coached Florent Joulain to a third-place finish (51.33) in the 400m hurdles at the French Junior National Championships.

Prior to taking over the UNO program, Randolph served as an assistant at Vanderbilt in 2002-03, where he coached the VU hurdlers, sprinters, relay teams and middle distance runners and served as recruiting coordinator. While coaching at Vandy, he assisted in the instruction with All-America heptathlete Josie Hahn to her first of many honors.

From 1999-2002, he served as an assistant at Belmont University, where he coached four all-conference athletes and one conference champion. The Bruins also sent their first student-athlete, Grant Jarnigan in the 100m, to the U.S. Junior Nationals during his tenure. In addition to his on the track responsibilities, he also oversaw the team's strength and conditioning program as well as assisting in the team's travel and preparation of the yearly budget for the program.

While at Belmont, Randolph founded and coached the Nashville Elite Track Club, and in 2001, he was named USATF Club Coach of the Year after leading Nashville Elite to the USATF Club National Championship. Randolph oversaw the administration and coordination of all aspects of the organization. Randolph holds USATF Level I and II certification for sprints, hurdles and relays and is a USATF certified meet official.

Before moving into the coaching ranks, Randolph competed for Central Michigan University and earned a bachelor's degree from CMU in organizational and public communication in 1998.