Photo by: John Fajardo
LaTanya Sheffield Accepts Role as Head Coach of Both Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Teams
5/18/2022 10:00:00 AM | Track and Field
Coach Sheffield will now oversee both men’s and women’s teams with a focus on the sprints, hurdles, and relays.
LONG BEACH, Calif. – LaTanya Sheffield has accepted a role to become the Head Coach of both men's and women's track and field programs. Additionally, she has been named the "Director in Waiting" where she will take over all of track and field when current Director, Andy Sythe, chooses to retire. The news was announced on Wednesday.
"I am grateful for the steady and strong leadership of Coach Andy Sythe over the years which has created a winning culture in the classroom and on the field of competition," said Executive Director of Athletics Andy Fee. "The continuation of our culture at Long Beach State is paramount to our future success. Coach Sheffield has proven she is the right person to lead our program's future repeatedly throughout her competitive career as an athlete, and as a coach here at the Beach and with the USA National Teams. LaTanya is a rising star in the coaching profession and Long Beach State track and field could not be in better hands under her leadership in the future."
Coach Sheffield is finishing her tenth season at Long Beach State mentoring the sprinters, hurdlers, and relay teams. Since joining the staff in 2013, she has seen 16 Big West Individual Titles, five Big West Relay Team Titles, and helped guide the women's team to conference championships in both 2018 and 2022 with 2018's representing the first in program history. In her time with the Beach, both men's and women's teams have combined for eight conference championships.
On the national stage, LBSU's sprinters have qualified for the NCAA Western Regionals in 40 events with 11 going on to the NCAA Championships under her mentorship.
Most notable of her athletes, Courtne' Davis was a nine-time All-Conference selection tying the highest women's total in Long Beach State program history. Also a five-time Big West champion, Davis was also an All-American in back-to-back seasons with Sheffield's guidance.
A highly sought after leader on the international stage, Sheffield led Team USA's women's sprints, hurdles, and relays at both the 2016 Rio and 2020 Tokyo Olympics as well as the 2019 Pan-American Games where her athletes combined for 18 medals.
Most recently, she was just announced as the head coach of the Team USA Women's National Team for the upcoming World Outdoor Championships this summer which will be held on U.S. soil for the first time in history.
More than just a coach on the track, Coach Sheffield has served as a National Team Development chair for the USATF, advocating for emerging elite athletes for the last 15 years, as well as helping Long Beach State student-athletes' success in the classroom.
"Long Beach State Athletics has a prestigious history in providing student-athletes with the best collegiate experience," said Coach Sheffield. "I look forward to continuing that legacy under the helm of Andy Fee and his staff. Above all, I am humbled and excited for the opportunity to lead our team to more championships with Coach Sythe. I am blessed to have served our national team of elite athletes on such a momentous stage. I am equally thankful that Long Beach State has supported my endeavors. It's been fulfilling to share my experience to elevate our student-athletes."
"I am grateful for the steady and strong leadership of Coach Andy Sythe over the years which has created a winning culture in the classroom and on the field of competition," said Executive Director of Athletics Andy Fee. "The continuation of our culture at Long Beach State is paramount to our future success. Coach Sheffield has proven she is the right person to lead our program's future repeatedly throughout her competitive career as an athlete, and as a coach here at the Beach and with the USA National Teams. LaTanya is a rising star in the coaching profession and Long Beach State track and field could not be in better hands under her leadership in the future."
Coach Sheffield is finishing her tenth season at Long Beach State mentoring the sprinters, hurdlers, and relay teams. Since joining the staff in 2013, she has seen 16 Big West Individual Titles, five Big West Relay Team Titles, and helped guide the women's team to conference championships in both 2018 and 2022 with 2018's representing the first in program history. In her time with the Beach, both men's and women's teams have combined for eight conference championships.
On the national stage, LBSU's sprinters have qualified for the NCAA Western Regionals in 40 events with 11 going on to the NCAA Championships under her mentorship.
Most notable of her athletes, Courtne' Davis was a nine-time All-Conference selection tying the highest women's total in Long Beach State program history. Also a five-time Big West champion, Davis was also an All-American in back-to-back seasons with Sheffield's guidance.
A highly sought after leader on the international stage, Sheffield led Team USA's women's sprints, hurdles, and relays at both the 2016 Rio and 2020 Tokyo Olympics as well as the 2019 Pan-American Games where her athletes combined for 18 medals.
Most recently, she was just announced as the head coach of the Team USA Women's National Team for the upcoming World Outdoor Championships this summer which will be held on U.S. soil for the first time in history.
More than just a coach on the track, Coach Sheffield has served as a National Team Development chair for the USATF, advocating for emerging elite athletes for the last 15 years, as well as helping Long Beach State student-athletes' success in the classroom.
"Long Beach State Athletics has a prestigious history in providing student-athletes with the best collegiate experience," said Coach Sheffield. "I look forward to continuing that legacy under the helm of Andy Fee and his staff. Above all, I am humbled and excited for the opportunity to lead our team to more championships with Coach Sythe. I am blessed to have served our national team of elite athletes on such a momentous stage. I am equally thankful that Long Beach State has supported my endeavors. It's been fulfilling to share my experience to elevate our student-athletes."
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