Nov. 29, 2007

Johnson C. Smith University has hired Lennox Graham as its new head men's and women's cross country and track and field coach. He also serves as the Irwin Belk Complex (IBC) stadium manager.

Graham brings 14 years of coaching experience at the junior and senior level, resulting in six national high school championship titles at Kingston College (High School) in Kingston, Jamaica. He has coached many individual champions at the local high school, Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA), Central American and Caribbean (CAC), North American - Central American and Caribbean (NACAC), Penn Relays, Pan American Junior Championships, and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) levels.

"When we built the Irwin Belk Complex, our plan was to create a recognized track program," said JCSU president Dr. Dorothy Cowser Yancy. "We dreamed of grandeur and recognition again...like our earlier teams that ran on cinder. We are so excited that he is here. We have laid the foundation for an outstanding track and field program for years to come."

"We are very fortunate to be in a position to have an individual of Lennox's caliber working with our track and field/cross country programs," JCSU athletics director Steve Joyner said. "His success speaks for itself and the relationships that he has developed in Jamaica and throughout the country bodes well for the continued success of our program." 

A 1984 graduate of Alabama State University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in business administration, Graham earned his master's degree in business administration from The University of New Orleans in 2006. As a student-athlete at Alabama State University, Graham was the top sprint/hurdler all four years and still holds the school record for the 110 meter hurdles.

"I want to thank Dr. Yancy for her vision in hiring me," remarked Graham. "I saw the IBC complex in May. It is a magnificent, state-of-the art complex. The track program had a solid foundation. The infrastructure is there; now it's time to add the human resources."

As a coach, Graham has made his presence felt on the national circuit having coached in several championships. He is also a member of the national coaching team working with the hurdlers for the World Junior Championships (Annecy, France 1998).

"My objective is to bring prominence to the university in the CIAA and to establish a consistent presence at the NCAA championships," said Graham. "We have to attract smart and positive student-athletes."

Graham has already been successful by recruiting Leford Green as a student-athlete, competing for JCSU this spring. Green has ambitions to compete in the Olympics in China next summer. He recently participated in the 11th International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Championships in Osaka, Japan. He ran the third leg of the 4x400 meter relays as part of the Jamaican national senior team in which his team finished in fourth place. He ran the fastest time in Kingston College's history (45.82 seconds) and is a decorated athlete.

Graham and his wife Valrie, have three children - Richard (15), Brian (13), and Xonnel (9) all of whom are avid swimmers.