Deem Nominated For USOC Coach of the Year Award
Aug. 20, 2002
Coral Gables, FL (hurricanesports.com) – University of Miami women’s track and field coach Amy Deem has been nominated by USA Track and Field for the United States Olympic Committee 2002 Developmental Coach of the Year Award.
In an effort to evaluate the status of coaching as a profession and to recognize the best coaches in America, the USOC invites each Olympic/Pan American sport to nominate two coaches – one for its National Coach of the Year Award and one for its Developmental Coach of the Year Award. The USOC will select five finalists in each category. The finalists will be invited to a Coaches Summit in mid-October where the overall winners will be announced.
Deem, entering her 13th season at Miami, has built the women’s track program from the ground up. Before her arrival at Miami the Hurricanes had never had an athlete even qualify for the NCAA Track and Field Championships. Since taking over the women’s track program in 1990, Deem has guiding 19 different athletes to a combined total of 46 All-America honors and six individual national titles.
Last season Deem extended her streak of consecutive seasons with at least one All-American to 11 as Kareen Clarke (triple jump), Gina Harris (long jump) and Lauryn Williams (60-meters) earned All-America honors at the NCAA Indoor Championships in Fayetteville, AR.
The Hurricanes earned a school-record seven All-America honors during the outdoor season finishing 20th at the NCAA Championships in Baton Rouge, LA. Williams and senior Wyllesheia Myrick both earned All-America honors in the 100-meters while Clarke earned All-America status in the triple jump. The Hurricanes’ 4×400-meter relay of Saraque Whittaker, Jamillah Wade, Jenise Winston and Kitoya Carter also took home All-America honors.
Over the summer Williams went on to win the gold medal in the 100-meters at the IAAF World Junior Championships in Kingston, Jamaica. Williams also took home a silver medal as a member of the 4×100-meter relay.
Over the last 12 seasons Deem has developed the Hurricanes into a BIG EAST power. Miami has won four of the last five BIG EAST outdoor titles including a dominating victory at last year’s championships. During Deem’s tenure Hurricane student-athletes have won a total of 47 BIG EAST titles.
Deem and her staff has been honored as the BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year in five of the last seven seasons (1996, 1998, 1999, 2001 and 2002). In 1998 Deem was recognized as the USA Track & Field Florida Coach of the Year. Last season she was honored as the USTCA South Region Coach of the Year for the second consecutive year.
