NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Candace Fuller is the newest member of the Vanderbilt track and field coaching staff, director Althea Thomas announced Thursday.
“I’m very excited about Coach Fuller joining our staff and being a permanent staple in our program,” Thomas said. “She brings a level of experience and professionalism that will prove to enhance the development of our program and athletes. She’s been a contributing factor to success on every level in the NCAA and the professional world, a quality that is irreplaceable when developing young men and women.”
Fuller, a former All-American at UCLA, comes to Vandy after spending three years as an assistant coach at Charlotte. With the Niners, she coached two Conference USA champions and an NCAA qualifier. Fuller’s coaching efforts also contributed to nine Conference USA team championships.
At Charlotte, she tutored Elizabeth Bailey to achieving a silver medal in the javelin at the Conference USA Championships and breaking the program record. Bailey was also selected to U20 Team USA for the 2022 U20 World Championships.
Prior to her stint in North Carolina, Fuller was the assistant coach at UC Riverside for four seasons where she mentored one Big West champion, one NCAA West Regional qualifier and multiple school record holders. In her third year with the Highlanders, Fuller coached freshman Shiloh Corrales-Nelson who broke the Philippines junior national records in the weight throw, shot put and hammer throw.
Fuller has also made stops at Cal Poly Pomona, Syracuse and CSUN in her 20 years of coaching. At Cal Poly Pomona, she coached California Collegiate Athletics Association champion Damani Brown who earned fifth place and All-America honors in the javelin at the NCAA DII Championships. While coaching at Syracuse, Fuller mentored six All-Americans, six ACC champions and one member of Team USA for the Pan American Games.
Outside of coaching, she has also worked in the NBA with the Miami Heat and the NHL with the Los Angeles Kings.
Fuller earned her undergraduate degree in sociology from UCLA and her master’s in sports administration from St. Thomas. As a student-athlete, she was an NCAA qualifier and Pac-10 champion in the discus.
