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Keith Named VU Cross Country Coach 8/2/2006 NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Steven Keith, head coach of women’s cross country at Alabama, has been named to a similar post for the Vanderbilt men’s and women’s cross country teams, Vice Chancellor David Williams announced Wednesday. “Vanderbilt has the potential to rise to an elite level on the national stage in cross country and we believe Steven Keith is the right person to lead us in that direction,” Williams said in making the announcement. Keith, a Vanderbilt graduate, has 20 years of coaching experience at the Division I level in cross country and track, including the last five years as head women’s cross country coach and assistant women’s track and field coach at Alabama. He previously coached at Texas-El Paso (1994-2001), Georgia Tech (1986-1991) and Emory (1983-1986). “This is a great opportunity for me, having been a student-athlete at Vanderbilt and now being a Division I and SEC coach,” Keith says. “I’m very familiar with the caliber of competition and what it takes to be number one in the conference. If you can be at the top in the SEC then you can be at the top nationally.” During his collegiate coaching career, Keith has mentored 22 All-Americans and two national champions, as well as finalists at the Olympics, World Championships, Pan American Games, European Championships, and World University Games. In addition, Keith lettered at Vanderbilt from 1977-1981 in cross country, and understands first hand the demands that athletics and academics have on Commodore student-athletes. The cross country teams will begin race season on September 1 at the Belmont Invitational. |
