JOLYTA HENDERSON NAMED UT MARTIN TRACK AND FIELD HEAD COACH
10/16/2019 10:08:00 AM | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field
MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin athletics director Kurt McGuffin has announced the hiring of Jolyta Henderson as the fifth head track and field coach in the program's Division I history.
Henderson was elevated to head coach after spending three seasons as an assistant coach with the UT Martin track and field programs. Henderson, 25, is the youngest female African American head coach in UT Martin and Ohio Valley Conference history while ranking amongst the nation's youngest head coaches.
"We are happy to promote Jolyta to the position of head coach," McGuffin said. "Jolyta will bring her energy to a program on the rise. Having been here through the reintroduction phase and seen the growth of the program, I feel confident that she will do what is best for her student-athletes."
During her time at UT Martin, Henderson has been critical in the development of a reintroduced program after over a decade hiatus. Over the course of the last three seasons, UT Martin has seen the roster grow to over 50 members while recording numerous school records.
During the 2019 track season, UT Martin took its program to another level of competition at the OVC Championships. At the OVC Indoor Championship the Skyhawks posted four event titles overall including the men's DMR which recorded the fourth-fastest time in OVC history. Individually, freshman Tyreke Sapp ranked as the highest point scorer at the championship after contributing on the DMR while winning individual titles in the 60m and 200m events. Meanwhile, another freshman Brady Fry set a new program record with a title in the 60m hurdles. A total of seven school records were broken during the 2019 indoor season, including the 60m, 60m hurdles, 200m, 400m, mile, 3k and DMR. Along with competitive success, the Skyhawk men's squad earned the OVC Team Sportsmanship Award.
In the outdoor track season, the Skyhawks tallied three school records in the men's 110m hurdles and 4x100m while posting a school mark in the women's high jump. At the OVC Outdoor Championship, Oisin O'Gailin posted a pair of top-five finishes in the 5k (second) and 1500m (fifth) while Fry finished runner-up in the 110m hurdle. Junior Leonel Perez (800m) and freshman Alexis Grandys (5k) also recorded top-five times.
"I am eternally grateful for such an amazing opportunity; I truly thank God for this blessing," Henderson said. "It is an amazing feeling to make history not only at UT Martin but as well at the OVC level. To be named the youngest female African American head coach is an honor. Having been at UT Martin since the rebirth of the track and field program, I look forward to the upcoming seasons. Our goal as a staff is leading our program to the next level while supporting our student-athletes to reach their top potential on and off the track."
A former collegiate athlete herself, Henderson competed in sprints, jumps and hurdles at Murray State University. During her time at Murray State, she achieved many personal records in sprints and hurdles. Along with her athletic ability, she was voted to the team's Leadership Council.
Prior to her collegiate career, Henderson was a five-time Tennessee state champion at Dyersburg High School. Henderson competed in sprints, jumps, hurdles and the pentathlon. She qualified for the Tennessee State Track and Field Championships in the 4x100, 4x200, 400m, long jump and triple jump where she held several school records.
Henderson earned a bachelor's degree in exercise science and wellness from Murray State in 2016. She later completed her Master's in family and consumer science from UT Martin in 2018.
Henderson was elevated to head coach after spending three seasons as an assistant coach with the UT Martin track and field programs. Henderson, 25, is the youngest female African American head coach in UT Martin and Ohio Valley Conference history while ranking amongst the nation's youngest head coaches.
"We are happy to promote Jolyta to the position of head coach," McGuffin said. "Jolyta will bring her energy to a program on the rise. Having been here through the reintroduction phase and seen the growth of the program, I feel confident that she will do what is best for her student-athletes."
During her time at UT Martin, Henderson has been critical in the development of a reintroduced program after over a decade hiatus. Over the course of the last three seasons, UT Martin has seen the roster grow to over 50 members while recording numerous school records.
During the 2019 track season, UT Martin took its program to another level of competition at the OVC Championships. At the OVC Indoor Championship the Skyhawks posted four event titles overall including the men's DMR which recorded the fourth-fastest time in OVC history. Individually, freshman Tyreke Sapp ranked as the highest point scorer at the championship after contributing on the DMR while winning individual titles in the 60m and 200m events. Meanwhile, another freshman Brady Fry set a new program record with a title in the 60m hurdles. A total of seven school records were broken during the 2019 indoor season, including the 60m, 60m hurdles, 200m, 400m, mile, 3k and DMR. Along with competitive success, the Skyhawk men's squad earned the OVC Team Sportsmanship Award.
In the outdoor track season, the Skyhawks tallied three school records in the men's 110m hurdles and 4x100m while posting a school mark in the women's high jump. At the OVC Outdoor Championship, Oisin O'Gailin posted a pair of top-five finishes in the 5k (second) and 1500m (fifth) while Fry finished runner-up in the 110m hurdle. Junior Leonel Perez (800m) and freshman Alexis Grandys (5k) also recorded top-five times.
"I am eternally grateful for such an amazing opportunity; I truly thank God for this blessing," Henderson said. "It is an amazing feeling to make history not only at UT Martin but as well at the OVC level. To be named the youngest female African American head coach is an honor. Having been at UT Martin since the rebirth of the track and field program, I look forward to the upcoming seasons. Our goal as a staff is leading our program to the next level while supporting our student-athletes to reach their top potential on and off the track."
A former collegiate athlete herself, Henderson competed in sprints, jumps and hurdles at Murray State University. During her time at Murray State, she achieved many personal records in sprints and hurdles. Along with her athletic ability, she was voted to the team's Leadership Council.
Prior to her collegiate career, Henderson was a five-time Tennessee state champion at Dyersburg High School. Henderson competed in sprints, jumps, hurdles and the pentathlon. She qualified for the Tennessee State Track and Field Championships in the 4x100, 4x200, 400m, long jump and triple jump where she held several school records.
Henderson earned a bachelor's degree in exercise science and wellness from Murray State in 2016. She later completed her Master's in family and consumer science from UT Martin in 2018.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Track and Field
/ Women's Track and Field
/ Men's Track and Field
/ Men's Track and Field
/ Men's Track and Field
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