By: by Emily Diekelmann
KENNESAW, Ga.- Kennesaw State track and field sprints and hurdles coach Devin West and multis and pole vault coach Jerel Langley announced their departure from the Owls coaching staff this week, accepting similar positions at Air Force and Eastern Michigan, respectively. West served on the Owls staff since 2007 while Langley has been with the Owls since 2008.
The duo’s exodus comes on the heels of the men capturing the 2010 Atlantic Sun Conference Indoor and Outdoor championships.
During their time with Kennesaw State, both coaches led many student-athletes to success in their respective events. In his last full season as sprints coach, West saw numerous previous school records broken on both the men’s and women’s side. In the 2010 season alone, West’s guidance helped his sprinters and hurdlers set a total of 25 program records. He had 19 competitors earn All- Atlantic Sun Conference honors between 2007 and 2010.
2010 was a big year for the Owls program, being eligible for NCAA Championship competition for the first time since completing the NCAA’s mandatory, four-year re-classification process from Division II to Division I. In their first year of eligibility, freshman Tremaine Grant and sophomore Kendall Parks both qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the 110 Meter Hurdles, with Parks advancing to the quarterfinals, both under the leadership of West.
“I want to thank everyone at Kennesaw State and especially Coach McGarey for allowing me develop my coaching skills at the collegiate level here,” West said. “I’m looking forward to my opportunity at Air Force and making the administration at Kennesaw State proud.”
Langley also experienced considerable success during his two years with the Owls. Between 2009 and 2010, Langley coached 15 All A-Sun performers, saw 12 school records broken and had five conference champions respectively. In 2009, Casey Strickland was named the A-Sun’s Most Outstanding Field Performer. That same year, he was also All A-Sun honors for his performance in heptathlon and javelin.
This year, under Langley’s tutelage, sophomore Naomi Mack shattered the A-Sun Outdoor Heptathalon record at the 2010 championship, scoring 4400 points on her way to the conference title.
“I am appreciative of the opportunities that were given me here,” Langley said. “It was great working with Coach McGarey the last two years. An opportunity presented itself at Eastern Michigan as a stepping stone in my career but it is tough to leave a place like this especially after our success last year. I know the program will be in good hands.”
