Shane Brandford

Position: Assistant Coach Alma mater: Southern Miss, 2005

Shane Brandford completed his fourth season with the Southern Miss track and field program as an assistant coach. His duties include coaching sprinters and relay teams while assisting in recruiting, coordinating home cross country and outdoor meets, academic liaison, aiding in facility management and day-to-day operations.

Since joining the staff, Brandford's sprinters have continually set new standards in the sprints for the Golden Eagles and have been a consistent contender each season in the indoor and outdoor Conference USA Championships. This season, Chastity Riggien set school records in the 60-meter indoor (7.26) and 100 meters outdoor (11.13) while advancing to the NCAA National Championship in both events, becoming just the second female sprinter to do. For her efforts, Riggien earned USTFCCCA second team All-American honors in both events. Justin Sims claimed the C-USA 100 meter dash title for the Golden Eagles for the first time since 1996. Former Eagle runner Cornelius Duncan set the record school in the indoor 400 meters (46.60) and outdoor 800 meters (1:50.90) while Cheris Fletcher set the record in the outdoor 400 meters for women at 53.96. Ten of his sprinters have qualified for the NCAA Championships for the indoor and outdoor seasons. Twelve of his sprinters earned Conference USA medals, including three with gold medals. His relay teams contend annually at the C-USA championships, placing in the top three finishers.

Prior to coming to Southern Miss, Brandford was an assistant at Arkansas-Little Rock, where he coached javelin throwers and assisted with sprinters, jumpers and throwers. He also assisted with team equipment purchasing, lettering, and coordinated home cross country meets and team travel.

Prior to his UALR position, Brandford spent one season as a volunteer assistant with the Southern Miss program, where he coached sprints and relays and assisted with general operational duties including videotaping, equipment management, and other duties.

The St. Philip, Barbados, native graduated from Southern Miss in May of 2005 with a degree in journalism and public relations.

Brandford, a three-year letterwinner, had a very successful career in track and field at Southern Miss. He won a bronze medal in the javelin at the 2004 Conference USA meet, and he qualified for the NCAA regionals in the he 4x100 meter relay. He recorded a personal best in the 100 meters at 10.52 seconds and in the javelin at 61.52 meters.

Brandford won the CARITA gold and the Central American and Caribbean silver in the javelin in 1998. He was a junior national champion in the 100 meters and javelin in 1999 and 2000.

Brandford is working towards a master's degree in arts and journalism at UALR.