LaTanya Sheffield Named Director of Track & Field and Cross Country at Long Beach State
7/17/2025 5:15:00 PM | Indoor Track, Track and Field
Nationally Respected Coach, Former NCAA Champion, and 2024 U.S. Olympic Head Coach Takes the Helm of The Beach’s Storied Program
LONG BEACH, Calif. — Long Beach State Executive Director of Athletics Bobby Smitheran has announced the promotion of LaTanya Sheffield to Director of Track and Field and Cross Country at The Beach.
An Olympian and former American record holder, Sheffield recently completed her 13th season at Long Beach State and her third as head coach of both the men's and women's track and field teams.
"We are thrilled to officially name LaTanya Sheffield as Director of the Long Beach State University track and field program," said Executive Director of Athletics Bobby Smitheran. "LaTanya is an Olympian, a former NCAA champion, and one of the most respected sprint and hurdle coaches in the country. Over the course of the last 13 seasons at Long Beach State, she has played a pivotal role in guiding our student-athletes to conference titles, NCAA qualifications, and record-breaking performances. Her passion for developing champions both on and off the track, as well as the impact she has had in the greater Long Beach community, makes her the ideal leader for the next era of Beach Track & Field."
"I'm honored and thrilled to step into the role of Director of Track & Field and Cross Country at Long Beach State," Sheffield said. "I am fully prepared to continue the proud legacy of developing student-athlete excellence at the Beach. I extend my sincere gratitude to everyone who has helped prepare me for this opportunity: family, colleagues, and athletes alike. Collegiate athletics is evolving, and I am energized to join Bobby Smitheran and his leadership team in their bold vision to elevate the student-athlete experience."
In 2025, Sheffield led a sprint and hurdle squad, coaching Tristyn Flores to new school records in the men's 100m and 200m, Rahni Turner in the 100m hurdles, and Sofia Lavreshina in both the 400m and 400m hurdles. Notably, Turner was named Big West AOY and Lavreshina was named to the CSC Academic All-District team.
Recognized globally for her coaching excellence, Sheffield served as Head Women's Coach for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she also captained the sprinters and hurdlers. Under her guidance, Team USA earned seven golds, five silvers, and four bronzes. She is the recipient of the 2024 City of Long Beach Mayor's Fund Legacy Award and the 2025 Century Club Co-Coach of the Year.
Her international résumé is extensive. Sheffield was the Women's Head Coach for the USA National Team at the 2022 World Championships and previously led sprints, hurdles, and relays at the 2016 Rio and 2020 Tokyo Olympics. In 2019, she led Team USA's women's program to 18 medals at the Pan American Games. She is a two-time recipient of the USATF Presidential Award.
One of the most respected figures in American track and field, Sheffield continues to leave a legacy through her outstanding achievements as both a world-class athlete and a national-level coach.
Her national coaching résumé includes serving as an assistant coach at the 2013 World Championships in Moscow, as well as sprints/hurdles/relays coach at the 2008 and 2006 World Indoor Championships, and the 2011 and 2007 Pan American Games.
She has served on several USATF committees, notably on the Development Committee as hurdle representative, and transitioned to committee chair in 2018. In this role, she played a critical part in identifying and assisting the next generation of elite athletes.
Since joining The Beach, Sheffield has made a transformative impact: seven conference championships in 10 years—five by the men's team and back-to-back women's titles in 2022 and 2023. She helped guide Long Beach State to its first MPSF Indoor Track & Field Championship in 2024, highlighted by Hailey Fune' earning MPSF Women's MVP honors after breaking the school pentathlon record. Turner set a program record in the 60m hurdles (8.25). The men's team swept the jumping events.
In the 2024 outdoor season, Omir Shiff was named honorable mention All-American in the 400m hurdles and won the Big West title. Other conference champions included Fune' (100m hurdles) and Justin Watterson (110m hurdles). LBSU sent 16 athletes to the NCAA West Regional, with Shiff advancing to nationals. Fune' tied the school record in the 100m hurdles.
Fune' also qualified for the USA Olympic Trials, while Tayah DeSousa and Aidan Turner competed at the Canadian Trials. Shiff and Lavreshina represented Israel and Portugal, respectively, at their national trials.
In 2023, Fune' was named Women's Athlete of the Year after winning the pentathlon and placing in multiple events. Kaitlyn Williams claimed both the 60m and long jump titles at the MPSF Championships. Outdoors, Turner won the 100m hurdles at the Big West Championships. Alex Heerink-van Breda was named Big West Freshman of the Year after winning the 400m hurdles.
The 2022 season saw nine new top ten indoor times and six new outdoor marks. Standouts included LeNaya Griffin, who won the MPSF Indoor 200m and 400m, and Natalie Tolento, who captured the Big West 400m title.
Since 2013, Sheffield has mentored 19 Big West champions, sent 11 athletes to the NCAA Championships, and has seen her athletes qualify for the NCAA West Preliminary Round in 41 events. LBSU relay teams have advanced to the NCAA Regionals five times, twice qualifying for the NCAA Championships.
In her first year at The Beach, 12 athletes earned a combined 16 All-Conference honors. Sheffield also coached three of four relay teams to top-three finishes, with the women's 4x400 squad setting a then-school record.
Before making her mark as a coach, Sheffield enjoyed an exceptional athletic career. She was a finalist in the 400-meter hurdles at the 1988 Olympic Games and represented the U.S. at the 1987 World Championships. In 1985, she set a new American record in the 400m hurdles and won the NCAA championship while competing for San Diego State University. Sheffield also claimed the bronze medal at the Pan American Games and two gold medals at the Olympic Sports Festival. In recognition of her achievements, she was inducted into the SDSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1993.
Beyond the track, Sheffield is a professional motivational speaker and founder of Sports Extravaganza, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to fighting childhood obesity. She was named one of Tucson's 25 Most Influential People in 2012 and has received the USATF Youth Division President's Award, the Sam Lacy Sports Pioneer Award, and the NAACP Community Service Recognition Award.
"Coach LaTanya Sheffield is one of the most respected coaches in the world of track and field. She has done tremendous things on many different stages. She is a collegiate coach, a world championship coach, an Olympic assistant coach and most recently, The Head Olympic Coach. Her accolades speak volumes on her ability. I do not know a better person suited to be the Director of Track and Field / Cross County at Long Beach State. She has put many years into serving Long Beach State and is more than ready to take the reins and continue building on the success that the program. She is a colleague and a friend and one of the most dedicated, hardworking, honest and loyal individuals that I know. She also has a great sense of humor! I am so excited for Coach Sheffield as she transitions into this new role as Director of the program and I know that she will have nothing but success!"
Quincy Watts, Head Coach, USC
"I'm so proud of coach Sheffield and thrilled to see her step into the new role as Director of T&F and XC. she is going to do a phenomenal job. I've always admired her passion and dedication to changing lives on and off the field. Wishing coach Sheffield all the success in this exciting new chapter!"
Andy Sythe, former Director of Track and Field, Long Beach State
"LaTanya and I have history that dates to our college days in 1984-87 when we were teammates. Since her addition to the staff 13 years ago, we have worked together and have accomplished so much here at Long Beach State. The family and culture we built will continue and Coach Sheffield will enhance it with her own signature. I can say firsthand that she has been ready to lead this program and it's student-athletes and now it's her time to shine. We should all be excited about the skill set and mentality she will bring to the program. Moving forward, my wish is for the community and alumni to grow the support network and help build something truly special under LaTanya's leadership."
An Olympian and former American record holder, Sheffield recently completed her 13th season at Long Beach State and her third as head coach of both the men's and women's track and field teams.
"We are thrilled to officially name LaTanya Sheffield as Director of the Long Beach State University track and field program," said Executive Director of Athletics Bobby Smitheran. "LaTanya is an Olympian, a former NCAA champion, and one of the most respected sprint and hurdle coaches in the country. Over the course of the last 13 seasons at Long Beach State, she has played a pivotal role in guiding our student-athletes to conference titles, NCAA qualifications, and record-breaking performances. Her passion for developing champions both on and off the track, as well as the impact she has had in the greater Long Beach community, makes her the ideal leader for the next era of Beach Track & Field."
"I'm honored and thrilled to step into the role of Director of Track & Field and Cross Country at Long Beach State," Sheffield said. "I am fully prepared to continue the proud legacy of developing student-athlete excellence at the Beach. I extend my sincere gratitude to everyone who has helped prepare me for this opportunity: family, colleagues, and athletes alike. Collegiate athletics is evolving, and I am energized to join Bobby Smitheran and his leadership team in their bold vision to elevate the student-athlete experience."
In 2025, Sheffield led a sprint and hurdle squad, coaching Tristyn Flores to new school records in the men's 100m and 200m, Rahni Turner in the 100m hurdles, and Sofia Lavreshina in both the 400m and 400m hurdles. Notably, Turner was named Big West AOY and Lavreshina was named to the CSC Academic All-District team.
Recognized globally for her coaching excellence, Sheffield served as Head Women's Coach for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she also captained the sprinters and hurdlers. Under her guidance, Team USA earned seven golds, five silvers, and four bronzes. She is the recipient of the 2024 City of Long Beach Mayor's Fund Legacy Award and the 2025 Century Club Co-Coach of the Year.
Her international résumé is extensive. Sheffield was the Women's Head Coach for the USA National Team at the 2022 World Championships and previously led sprints, hurdles, and relays at the 2016 Rio and 2020 Tokyo Olympics. In 2019, she led Team USA's women's program to 18 medals at the Pan American Games. She is a two-time recipient of the USATF Presidential Award.
One of the most respected figures in American track and field, Sheffield continues to leave a legacy through her outstanding achievements as both a world-class athlete and a national-level coach.
Her national coaching résumé includes serving as an assistant coach at the 2013 World Championships in Moscow, as well as sprints/hurdles/relays coach at the 2008 and 2006 World Indoor Championships, and the 2011 and 2007 Pan American Games.
She has served on several USATF committees, notably on the Development Committee as hurdle representative, and transitioned to committee chair in 2018. In this role, she played a critical part in identifying and assisting the next generation of elite athletes.
Since joining The Beach, Sheffield has made a transformative impact: seven conference championships in 10 years—five by the men's team and back-to-back women's titles in 2022 and 2023. She helped guide Long Beach State to its first MPSF Indoor Track & Field Championship in 2024, highlighted by Hailey Fune' earning MPSF Women's MVP honors after breaking the school pentathlon record. Turner set a program record in the 60m hurdles (8.25). The men's team swept the jumping events.
In the 2024 outdoor season, Omir Shiff was named honorable mention All-American in the 400m hurdles and won the Big West title. Other conference champions included Fune' (100m hurdles) and Justin Watterson (110m hurdles). LBSU sent 16 athletes to the NCAA West Regional, with Shiff advancing to nationals. Fune' tied the school record in the 100m hurdles.
Fune' also qualified for the USA Olympic Trials, while Tayah DeSousa and Aidan Turner competed at the Canadian Trials. Shiff and Lavreshina represented Israel and Portugal, respectively, at their national trials.
In 2023, Fune' was named Women's Athlete of the Year after winning the pentathlon and placing in multiple events. Kaitlyn Williams claimed both the 60m and long jump titles at the MPSF Championships. Outdoors, Turner won the 100m hurdles at the Big West Championships. Alex Heerink-van Breda was named Big West Freshman of the Year after winning the 400m hurdles.
The 2022 season saw nine new top ten indoor times and six new outdoor marks. Standouts included LeNaya Griffin, who won the MPSF Indoor 200m and 400m, and Natalie Tolento, who captured the Big West 400m title.
Since 2013, Sheffield has mentored 19 Big West champions, sent 11 athletes to the NCAA Championships, and has seen her athletes qualify for the NCAA West Preliminary Round in 41 events. LBSU relay teams have advanced to the NCAA Regionals five times, twice qualifying for the NCAA Championships.
In her first year at The Beach, 12 athletes earned a combined 16 All-Conference honors. Sheffield also coached three of four relay teams to top-three finishes, with the women's 4x400 squad setting a then-school record.
Before making her mark as a coach, Sheffield enjoyed an exceptional athletic career. She was a finalist in the 400-meter hurdles at the 1988 Olympic Games and represented the U.S. at the 1987 World Championships. In 1985, she set a new American record in the 400m hurdles and won the NCAA championship while competing for San Diego State University. Sheffield also claimed the bronze medal at the Pan American Games and two gold medals at the Olympic Sports Festival. In recognition of her achievements, she was inducted into the SDSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1993.
Beyond the track, Sheffield is a professional motivational speaker and founder of Sports Extravaganza, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to fighting childhood obesity. She was named one of Tucson's 25 Most Influential People in 2012 and has received the USATF Youth Division President's Award, the Sam Lacy Sports Pioneer Award, and the NAACP Community Service Recognition Award.
What they are saying about Coach Sheffield
Connie Price-Smith, Head Coach, Ole Miss"Coach LaTanya Sheffield is one of the most respected coaches in the world of track and field. She has done tremendous things on many different stages. She is a collegiate coach, a world championship coach, an Olympic assistant coach and most recently, The Head Olympic Coach. Her accolades speak volumes on her ability. I do not know a better person suited to be the Director of Track and Field / Cross County at Long Beach State. She has put many years into serving Long Beach State and is more than ready to take the reins and continue building on the success that the program. She is a colleague and a friend and one of the most dedicated, hardworking, honest and loyal individuals that I know. She also has a great sense of humor! I am so excited for Coach Sheffield as she transitions into this new role as Director of the program and I know that she will have nothing but success!"
Quincy Watts, Head Coach, USC
"I'm so proud of coach Sheffield and thrilled to see her step into the new role as Director of T&F and XC. she is going to do a phenomenal job. I've always admired her passion and dedication to changing lives on and off the field. Wishing coach Sheffield all the success in this exciting new chapter!"
Andy Sythe, former Director of Track and Field, Long Beach State
"LaTanya and I have history that dates to our college days in 1984-87 when we were teammates. Since her addition to the staff 13 years ago, we have worked together and have accomplished so much here at Long Beach State. The family and culture we built will continue and Coach Sheffield will enhance it with her own signature. I can say firsthand that she has been ready to lead this program and it's student-athletes and now it's her time to shine. We should all be excited about the skill set and mentality she will bring to the program. Moving forward, my wish is for the community and alumni to grow the support network and help build something truly special under LaTanya's leadership."
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