Sun Devil Track adds sprints coach

August 27, 2007

<a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/c-track/mtt/mcdaniel_kenny00.html">… McDaniel</a> has been hired by the Arizona State University track and field program to coach its women's sprints, hurdles and relays, Director of Track and Field <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/c-track/mtt/kraft_greg00.html">Greg Kraft</a> announced Monday. McDaniel, who replaces <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/c-track/mtt/miller_dion00.html">Dion Miller</a> after he took a similar position at Texas Tech, comes to Tempe after working with the men's and women's sprints, hurdles and relays at Cal State Fullerton over the past three seasons.<separator></separator>"We are very excited to have Coach McDaniel join our staff from Cal State Fullerton," Kraft said. "I believe the table has been set by the recruiting efforts of Coach [Dion] Miller with the fine class he signed. Our sprint group will continue to have an impact in our program and hopefully that impact will continue to grow as we try to balance our program. I think the enthusiasm and maturity Coach McDaniel brings to this group will definitely build on the previous efforts of Coach Miller."<separator></separator>"This opportunity is electrifying and filled with promise," McDaniel said. "I'm looking forward to the reward of working with one of the premier programs in the country and I hope I can carry on the tradition that Arizona State has established over the years. To be given this opportunity by one of the top coaches in the nation is an honor in it's self. I can't wait to meet my new student-athletes and begin installing my training system. This is a very exciting and gratifying moment for me and my coaching career. I would like to send out a special thanks to John Elders and Ron Kamaka for giving me the opportunity to at Cal State Fullerton and I look forward to the next stage of my career."<separator></separator>Prior to his arrival in Tempe, McDaniel spent the past three seasons (2005-07) coaching the men's and women's sprints, hurdles and relays at CSUF and guided six individuals (three men and three women) and one women's relay to Big West Conference championships. McDaniel's student-athletes also reset 14 total school records for the Titans, including seven women's individual events, all four women's relays and three individual men's events.<separator></separator>McDaniel's first coaching job came in 2001 as he was hired to coach the men's and women's sprints, hurdles and relays at San Francisco State. While with the Gator program (2001-04), McDaniel's student-athletes accounted for three school records while a pair of sprinters qualified in the 100m and 200m dash at the NCAA Division II Championships. His student-athletes also garnered 10 total All-CCAA honors.<separator></separator>Before taking his position at SFSU, McDaniel served as a student assistant coach (2000) at his Alma Mater, Pittsburgh State University in Pittsburgh, Kan. A 1999 graduate with a degree in General Studies with an emphasis in Kinesiology and Nutrition, McDaniel ran for the Gorillas for two years. In 1997, he earned All-MIAA accolades in the indoor 55m hurdles as well as both the 110m high hurdles and the 400m hurdles during the outdoor season.<separator></separator>McDaniel opened his collegiate career in 1995 at Blinn College in Brenham, Texas, where he competed for one year. In his one year with BC, the Buccaneers captured the 1995 NJCAA Track and Field Championship before the school discontinued the program. McDaniel transferred to Kansas City Community College in Kansas City, Kan., for his sophomore season and earned All-America honors after placing fifth in the 55m hurdles.<separator></separator>A native of Kansas City, Kan., and graduate of Longview High School, McDaniel attained his USATF Level II Sprints and Hurdles certification in the summer of 2006.<separator></separator>

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