Cory Nelms and Devon Hill Join UM Track Staff
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Two of the top men’s hurdlers in University of Miami track and field history will be helping develop the current crop of Hurricanes.
Cory Nelms and Devon Hill have returned to their alma mater and rejoined the Hurricanes track and field program as members of the coaching staff, with Nelms being promoted to assistant sprints coach and Hill rejoining the program as a volunteer coach.
Nelms and Hill join Miami director of track and field/cross country Amy Deem’s coaching staff, reuniting with the coach whom helped the standout hurdlers reach new heights on the track. Deem feels the addition of Nelms and Hill will only help strengthen the program.
“Both Cory and Devon have meant a lot to our men’s track and field program,” Deem said. “They bring a lot of passion and drive to the program and will work hard to help our men’s program reach unprecedented levels of success.”
Nelms, who served as a volunteer assistant for the previous two seasons, was promoted to assistant sprints coach in the fall of 2015. A two-sport standout for the Hurricanes, Nelms was a member of the track team and football team while at Miami. Following his success at Miami, Nelms spent three years in the National Football League, playing for the San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders.
An All-ACC performer on the track, Nelms won the 2009 ACC Indoor Championship in the 60m hurdles and claimed the 2010 ACC Outdoor title in the 110m hurdles. He holds the school record in the 400m hurdles (50.75) and is a member of the quartet that ran a UM record time of 39.57 seconds in the 4x100m relay.
“It’s an honor and a blessing that I get to come here and have the opportunity to pass down the knowledge that I’ve acquired throughout my athletic career,” Nelms said. “It’s exciting to be able to help the Canes of today and the future Canes that I’ll be coaching and I want to continue to help every generation that comes through here. I’ve been in their shoes before, I’ve walked these halls and sat in these same desks, so I can offer them advice on how to be successful here.”
Hill rejoins the Miami track and field staff as a volunteer coach after previously serving in the same capacity during the 2013 and 2014 seasons. One of the most successful hurdlers in Hurricane history, Hill holds the school’s men’s 60m hurdles (7.55) and men’s 110m hurdles (13.35) records. An All-American and All-ACC performer, Hill was the 2010 and 2011 ACC Indoor champion in the 60m hurdles.
He was also the 2011 ACC Outdoor champion in the 110m hurdles and placed third in the 60m hurdles at the 2011 NCAA Indoor Championships A year later, Hill was the national runner-up in the 60m hurdles, running a personal-best 7.55 at the 2012 NCAA Indoor Championships. Hill was the 2012 ACC Outdoor champion in 110m hurdles (13.35) and placed first in the same event at the 2012 NCAA East Preliminary (13.41).
“It’s awesome to be back,” Hill said. “I enjoy being in this environment and helping with the kids. I’ve been missing for a year and there are so many new kids on the team. Just being able to give them my experience and helping them grow is an amazing feeling.”
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