WSSU has hired James Daniels as a coach
Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) has hired James Daniels as its new cross-country and track & field coach. Daniels will coach women’s & men’s cross-country, as well as the track & field programs.
Daniels has plenty of experience and is primed to take WSSU to a new level with its cross-country and track & field programs, officials say.
James Daniels coached 12 seasons at North Carolina A&T in the Track and Field program. Entering into 2012, Daniels served as N.C. A&T’s Interim Director of Track and Field Programs. Over the first nine years of his tenure, he coached sprinters and hurdlers as an assistant. During that span, he coached 11 All-Americans, 16 different individuals to 35 MEAC Championships, 63 MEAC Championships, seven MEAC Relay Championship teams, two MEAC record holders, 26 school record holders, 92 All-MEAC Academic Award recipients and 107 NCAA Regional Qualifiers.
North Carolina A&T student-athletes also experienced a few firsts under Daniels’ tutelage. Alexandria Spruiel (400 meters) and hurdler Loreal Smith were the first two female All-Americans in school history, earning the honors during the 2009 track season. Loreal Smith became the first and to date the only track and field athlete to win the 2009 MEAC Woman of the Year award for her outstanding achievements as a student-athlete and her involvement in community projects.
Jenea McCammon was the first Lady Aggie to make a USATF Junior National final in the 400-meter hurdles. Dotrine Jacobs became the first Lady Aggie to make a USATF Junior National final in two events-the 100-meter hurdles and 400-meter hurdles-and was named an alternate in the 400-meter hurdles.
On the men’s side, Calesio Newman won three straight 100-meter MEAC Championships. After graduation, Newman competed in the 2011 Pan Am Games, becoming the first Aggie to be named to a USATF Senior National Team.
Daniels has coached at all levels of track and field and has served as a consultant to numerous elite athletes. Daniels is a highly regarded lecturer and has spoken at the Nike Elite Summit, North Carolina Track & Cross Country Coaches Association and numerous high schools on the East Coast.
As an assistant track coach for the Division III national power, he was a part of four National Championship teams, coached two national record holders, six Division III National Champions and 114 All-American citations were earned.
Daniels graduated Cum Laude from Hampton University, earned Golden Key National Society Scholar Honors and became an Alpha Kappa Delta Sociology Honor Society Inductee. He is USA Track & Field Level II Certified in Sprints, Hurdles, and Relays.
