Christopher McCoy is entering his seventh year as head coach with University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff men and women’s track and field team, while also implementing the team’s strength and conditioning programs. Since joining the program in the fall of 2011 he has taken the team on another dimension. In 2012 the women’s team finished 5th indoor and 6th outdoor conference while, breaking 4 SWAC records and 2 school records were broken during the indoor and outdoor season. Ninfa Barnard brought home the SWAC Indoor and Outdoor High Point Award on the track after winning 3 events each. The men’s team finished 7th indoor and 5th outdoor, 1 SWAC record and 1 school record was broken and Erick Thomas was named High Point Field Award Winner. The throwers were on fire in 2012 while Terron Amstead qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championship in Eugene, Oregon and finished 14th in the country. The following year in 2012 McCoy lead the women’s team to a top 5 finish indoor and outdoor conference, while 2 more records were broken by Ninfa Barnard as well as the High Point Track Award brought back to UAPB indoor and outdoor. Barnard later in the season qualified for the NCAA West Regional’s in Austin, Texas. The men finished in the top 10 both indoor and outdoor and the 4x400m relay finished 5th. In 2013-2014, UAPB women’s team finished in the top 10 while Ninfa broke the SWAC and school record in the 3000m. Also, sophomore Sireta Roach brought home the gold and with a SWAC and school record in the shot put. UAPB men’s team placed in the top 10 again and Matthew Agard won the mile, 3rd (3000m), 8th (800m), and 5th (5000m). Outdoor the men and women’s team Sireta Roach and Erick Thomas were voted High Point Field Award. The men’s 4x4 shocked the field running their personal best of 3:10.40 as well finished 27th in the West Region.
McCoy came to Pine Bluff, after a three years stint as an assistant track & field coach at Hampton University; coaching women’s team the 400m, 400H, and throwers. 2009-20011 Hampton won 3 MEAC conference championships indoor/outdoor and cross country. McCoy coached the infamous Francena McCorory, who broke the American and NCAA Indoor Record with a time of 50.4.
Before he headed north to Hampton University he was the assistant coach at Bethune- Cookman as well serving as a volunteer strength and conditioning coach for the Wildcats. At Bethune-Cookman McCoy coached sprints, hurdles, jumps, throwing events and multi events, while also designing and implementing the team’s strength and conditioning programs.
McCoy began his coaching career at St. Augustine College as a part- time assistant for three years, before he moved on to Murray State where he served as a graduate assistant and coached jumpers and hurdlers in 2002-2003. McCoy returned to St. Augustine from 2003-2004, where he served as assistant track & field coach and assistant strength and conditioning coach.
McCoy graduated from St. Augustine’s College in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in Human Performance and Wellness. While at St. Augustine, McCoy primarily ran the 200-meter dash and 400- meter dash, he earned All- CIAA honors six times. He was also named an NCAA Div. II All- American in the 400-meter dash and 4x400 meter relay.
A native of West Memphis, Ark. McCoy is a member of the U.S. Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association, and he is certified Level I and II coach; he earned the designation in sprints, hurdles, and relays in 2005 and the jumps in 2007.
McCoy is also an avid golfer.
