Christopher McCoy has established the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Track & Field program as one of the premier programs in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), producing conference champions, NCAA qualifiers, All-Americans, school and conference record holders, and nationally recognized student-athletes during his tenure.
Since joining the Golden Lions in 2011, McCoy has transformed UAPB into a consistent conference contender while serving as head coach of the men’s and women’s track & field programs and overseeing the department’s strength and conditioning efforts. Through his leadership, the Golden Lions have experienced unprecedented success at the conference, regional, and national levels.
Early in his tenure, McCoy guided the Lady Lions to fifth-place finishes at the SWAC Indoor and Outdoor Championships while the program shattered four SWAC records and two school records. Standout Ninfa Barnard swept the SWAC Indoor and Outdoor High Point Awards after winning three events at each championship before advancing to the NCAA West Preliminary Round.
On the men’s side, Erick Thomas earned the SWAC High Point Field Award, while future NFL All-Pro Terron Armstead qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon, where he finished 14th nationally in the discus. McCoy continued to build one of the conference’s strongest throwing programs as Sireta Roach captured conference championships while establishing both SWAC and school records in the shot put. Distance standout Matthew Agard also enjoyed an outstanding career, winning the SWAC Indoor Mile Championship while earning multiple All-SWAC honors.
As the program continued to grow, McCoy developed UAPB into one of the SWAC’s premier track and field programs, consistently producing NCAA West Preliminary qualifiers, conference champions, and record-breaking performances across every event group.
One of the program’s greatest success stories has been high jumper Caleb Snowden, who became one of the nation’s elite collegiate jumpers under McCoy’s guidance. Snowden qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships in consecutive seasons and earned First-Team All-America honors after finishing National Runner-Up in the high jump while clearing a school-record 2.24 meters (7-4¼). His accomplishments placed UAPB among the nation’s elite programs in the jumps and added another chapter to the program’s growing national reputation.
The 2025 outdoor season proved to be one of the most successful years in school history.
McCoy coached Jordan Pierre to one of the finest individual seasons ever by a Golden Lion. Pierre advanced through the NCAA West Preliminary Round before earning First-Team All-America honors with a third-place finish in the 400 meters at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. His historic performance marked one of the highest national finishes in UAPB Track & Field history and solidified McCoy’s reputation for developing elite sprinters capable of competing on the national stage.
The Golden Lions’ 4x100-meter relay also enjoyed a historic season, rewriting both the UAPB and SWAC record books with a time of 38.96 while advancing to the NCAA Outdoor Championships. The relay team finished 14th in the nation, highlighting one of the finest relay performances in school and conference history.
McCoy’s athletes continued their dominance during the 2026 indoor season. The men’s 4x400-meter relay captured the SWAC Championship while establishing new SWAC and UAPB school records with a time of 3:10.48. The women’s 4x400-meter relay also set a new UAPB indoor school record after clocking 3:47.46, further demonstrating the continued rise of both programs.
Throughout his tenure, McCoy has coached numerous NCAA Championship qualifiers, NCAA West Preliminary qualifiers, SWAC Champions, SWAC High Point Award winners, All-SWAC selections, school record holders, conference record holders, and First-Team All-Americans. His athletes have rewritten the UAPB record book in the sprints, relays, hurdles, throws, jumps, and distance events while consistently competing against the nation’s top collegiate programs.
Beyond competition, McCoy has built a culture centered on discipline, accountability, academic success, and championship excellence. His emphasis on strength development, technical instruction, and holistic student-athlete growth has elevated the Golden Lions into one of the SWAC’s most respected and nationally recognized track and field programs.
Today, UAPB Track & Field continues to build upon that success, with McCoy leading a program that regularly competes for conference championships while producing nationally ranked student-athletes capable of earning All-America honors and representing the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff on college track and field’s biggest stage.
Career Highlights Under Christopher McCoy
- Head Coach of the UAPB Men’s and Women’s Track & Field programs since 2011.
- Produced multiple NCAA Championship qualifiers and NCAA West Preliminary qualifiers.
- Coached Jordan Pierre to First-Team All-America honors with a third-place finish in the 400 meters at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
- Coached Caleb Snowden to First-Team All-America honors and NCAA National Runner-Up in the high jump while setting a UAPB school record of 2.24m (7-4¼).
- Guided the UAPB men’s 4x100-meter relay to a SWAC and school-record 38.96, advancing to the NCAA Outdoor Championships and finishing 14th nationally.
- Led the UAPB men’s 4x400-meter relay to the 2026 SWAC Indoor Championship while setting SWAC and school records (3:10.48).
- Guided the UAPB women’s 4x400-meter relay to a new school record (3:47.46).
- Coached multiple SWAC High Point Award winners, including Ninfa Barnard, Erick Thomas, and Sireta Roach.
- Developed future NFL All-Pro Terron Armstead, an NCAA Outdoor Championship qualifier.
- Mentored numerous SWAC champions, All-SWAC performers, school-record holders, conference-record holders, and nationally ranked student-athletes.
- Established UAPB Track & Field as one of the premier programs in the Southwestern Athletic Conference through sustained success on the conference, regional, and national levels.
