Track And Field Announces Volunteer Coaches

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – To be the best, you surround yourself with the best. That's the motto University of Memphis track and field head coach Kevin Robinson is employing in 2019-20, as the Tigers program announced its volunteer coaching staff Tuesday.

In the past month, Robinson added Shareese Hicks (sprints/hurdles) and Kyle Ellis (jumps/pole vault) as full-time assistant coaches. Now, the 14-year head coaching veteran has further improved his staff with five former All-Americans.

The five volunteer coaches are Michael Criticos, Davon DeMoss, Antwon Hicks, Carolina Carmichael Moll and Pauls Pujats. In their collegiate careers, the quintet combined for 16 All-America honors, 14 NCAA Championships appearances and 11 school records.

Head coach Kevin Robinson comments
"You take a look at this group and you see a whole host of former athletes that competed at a very high level. A couple of them are still competing. Pauls was an Olympic finalist (in 2016) and is training for 2020. Carolina has come back to also prepare for the Olympics.

"Michael is in his second year with the program and helps with the throws, especially the javelin group. Having Davon, one of our former sprinters, is awesome. He is a local athlete who competed at a high level and understands the importance of hard work. Throw Antwon in the mix, and for a period of time, he was one of the best hurdlers in the world. He was an NCAA champion, and his skill set in the hurdles and jumps is great.

"The five volunteers give our program more experts of those who've been there and done it. This gives us more depth in terms of coaching, more eyes, more help. It's important for our current student-athletes to be around elite athletes like these, and they can truly see what it takes day-in and day-out to compete at the highest level – how to warm up, how to take care of your body, the discipline, the patience, the consistency.

"All of them, with the exception with Antwon, competed here. So, to see that group of elite athletes come back, be involved with the program and help the current group of Tigers is neat."

The following are brief biographical sketches on the Memphis volunteer coaches:

Michael Criticos
Three-time All-American (2018: first team; 2015, 2017: second team) … Placed fifth in the men's javelin at the 2018 NCAA Championships and 13^thin the event at the 2015 and 2017 national meets … Four-time NCAA East Preliminaries qualifier … Four-time medalist in the javelin at the American Athletic Conference Championships, including the 2016 title … Holds the school record in the men's javelin.

Davon DeMoss
Holds four program records in the sprints (indoor 60m/indoor 200m/outdoor 100m) and relays (4x100m) … First Memphis sprinter to earn All-America honors in the NCAA indoor (second team; 60m) and outdoor (second team; 100m, 4x100m) championships in the same year … 10-time NCAA East Preliminaries qualifier … Seven-time medalist at the American Athletic Conference Championships.

Antwon Hicks
One of 10 NCAA champions in Ole Miss history … One of six Rebels to win multiple NCAA titles … Six-time All-American … Won back-to-back NCAA crowns in the men's indoor 60-meter hurdles in 2004 and 2005 … Record holder in the Ole Miss men's indoor 60-meter hurdles … Also holds the Rebels outdoor 110-meter hurdles record.

Carolina Carmichael Moll
Four-time All-American in the women's pole vault … Competed at the NCAA Championships four times – one indoor (2016) and three outdoor (2014-16) … Four-time American Athletic Conference champion in the women's pole vault ... Four-time All-American Athletic Conference honoree … Holds the Memphis program records in the women's indoor and outdoor pole vaults … Three-time NCAA East Preliminaries qualifier.

Pauls Pujats
2016 Olympic finalist in the men's pole vault (represented Latvia) … NCAA runner-up in the men's pole vault at the 2015 national meet … Won the 2015 NCAA East Preliminaries crown in the event … Holds the Memphis program records in both the indoor and outdoor pole vaults … Bronze medalist in the pole vault at the 2014 NCAA Indoor Championships … Three-time All-American … Four-time all-conference.

University of Memphis Athletics

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