Devin West Returns to Air Force Track & Field Staff
8/31/2020 11:57:00 AM | Track and Field
West previously served as the Falcons' assistant coach during the 2010-11 season.
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. – Air Force track and field head coach Ralph Lindeman announced that Devin West is returning to the Academy's coaching staff to oversee the sprints and hurdles program. West, who previously served as an assistant coach on the Falcons' 2010-11 staff, brings a wealth of experience back to the Academy following coaching stints at several Power 5 programs, including, most recently, the University of Texas.
"This is a tremendous opportunity, and I am very excited to return to the United States Air Force Academy and lead the sprints and hurdles group," West said. "USAFA provides a one-of-a-kind platform for student-athletes to receive a world-class education, compete and become officers of character serving our nation. Being a part of this type of program, under the leadership of Ralph Lindeman, is a privilege. I would like to thank Athletic Director Nathan Pine, Senior Associate Athletic Director Jim Trego, and Coach Lindeman for their confidence in my abilities and allowing me this opportunity."
Air Force thrived under West during his first stop in 2010-11. The men's 4x400-meter indoor relay of Manny Smith, Anthony Delgado, Cory Engel and Chris Severino bought home the program's first-ever Mountain West title in that event, while Bryce Bergman accounted for the Academy's first conference championship in the 400-meter hurdles. Under his guidance, the Falcons also claimed four all-MW accolades and made seven improvements to the Academy's all-time standings, including 400-meter hurdle times by Emily Cotharn and Rachel Thomas that were the two fastest marks in program history.
"Myself, and our entire coaching staff, are really excited to welcome Devin back to the Air Force Academy," Lindeman said. "I was disheartened when he left here in the fall of 2011 to take a position at a powerhouse track program in the NCAA Division I ranks, knowing that we were losing a 'rising star' in the coaching profession. Nevertheless, we stayed in touch and I was able to continue to mentor Devin as his career took him to several stops at NCAA Power 5 institutions, and with every stop, my admiration for his coaching techniques and recruiting successes grew. What I've particularly appreciated when watching Devin in action was how well he relates to today's student-athletes."
Throughout his 12-year career, West has coached six Olympians, 32 All-Americans, one NCAA champion, 39 conference champions and 70 school record-holders.
After leaving the Academy in 2011, West gained experience at several of the nation's major Power 5 programs, where he developed a reputation as one of the best recruiters in the sport. He signed five No. 1-ranked U.S. High School student-athletes and three No. 1-ranked World Junior student-athletes, while also accounting for four Top-10 recruiting classes (Georgia, Texas Tech, Miami and Florida State).
During his most recent stint at Texas, West assisted head coach Edrick Floreal in coaching the men's and women's sprints and hurdles program – a group that included two program record holders (Jonathon Jones in the 400-meter dash, Micaiah Harris in the 200-meter dash) and 10 All-Americans. He also saw both the men and women place within the top 10 of the 2019 NCAA Outdoor Championships and the women's team sweep the indoor and outdoor titles at the Big 12 Championships that year. In addition, West also assisted Floreal in coaching the 2019 USA Track and Field 100-meter champion, Teahna Daniels.
Prior to his time in Austin, West served as an associate head coach at Arizona State University in 2018. During his time with the Sun Devils, he helped Alethia Marrero run the second-fastest 800-meter time in ASU history, finish second at the PAC-12 Championships and earn second-team All-America honors. With West on the staff, Arizona State's women finished the year ranked No. 12 in the USTFCCCA Top 25 and had a ninth-place finish at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
He spent two years as the recruiting coordinator and sprints coach at the University of Georgia (2015-17), where he was part of some of the most successful seasons for the women in school history. The Bulldogs finished a program-best second at the both the indoor and outdoor championships in 2017, after finishing third at both meets during his first season. He also assisted in the coaching of breakout sophomore Kendal Williams, who earned first-team All-America honors in the 60-meter dash, and oversaw a men's sprint squad that tallied more than one-third of Georgia's point total at the SEC Outdoor Championships.
West also spent time on the coaching staffs at Texas Tech University (2014-15), the University of Miami (2013-14) and Florida State University (2011-13).
During his one season with the Red Raiders, he helped the men finish second at the Big 12 Championships and ninth at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, while the women finished third at the conference meet and earned a top-20 finish at the national meet. While at Miami, West coached the men's 4x100-meter relay to its first regional appearance in four years and helped Artie Burns (currently with the Pittsburgh Steelers) win the ACC title and claim second-team All-America honors in the 60-meter hurdles. In his time with the Seminoles, he assisted the men's 4x100-meter relay team to All-America honors and helped Dentarius Locke and James Harris claim berths to the NCAA Championships.
West got his collegiate coaching start at Kennesaw State in 2007, and was a catalyst for the Owls' dominant run that included four Atlantic Sun Conference titles.
His accomplishments in the college ranks make up just some of the successes of his coaching career. He made a name for himself on the high school and international levels as well, coaching nine Georgia state meet finalists while working as an assistant at Norcross High School. He also sent an athlete to the IAAF World Junior Championships in the 100-meter hurdles in 2010, while coaching a 100-meter dash athlete to the USTF Junior Championships in 2009.
West was a member of the football and track teams at St. Mary's College, before transferring to Morehouse College in Atlanta. He received his degree in interdisciplinary studies from Kennesaw State, while coaching the Owls in 2010. He is also certified as a Level I coach with USA Track and Field.
He married Carley Faith Dart in August 2020.
"When you're hiring a coach at any level and in any sport at the Air Force Academy, it's most important to find an individual who's a good fit for a service academy," Lindeman added. "Devin was a great fit for us from 2010-11 and he will be a great fit again. He understands and appreciates the uniqueness of coaching at this institution. He know what he's getting back into and I know, and trust, who we're getting back as a member of the coaching staff. Knowing the programs he's worked at over the last nine year, and particularly the outstanding coaches he's worked under and learned from, I'm confident the ideas, plans, and methods that Devin suggests to our staff and uses with our cadet-athletes will be a huge benefit to our program."
"This is a tremendous opportunity, and I am very excited to return to the United States Air Force Academy and lead the sprints and hurdles group," West said. "USAFA provides a one-of-a-kind platform for student-athletes to receive a world-class education, compete and become officers of character serving our nation. Being a part of this type of program, under the leadership of Ralph Lindeman, is a privilege. I would like to thank Athletic Director Nathan Pine, Senior Associate Athletic Director Jim Trego, and Coach Lindeman for their confidence in my abilities and allowing me this opportunity."
Air Force thrived under West during his first stop in 2010-11. The men's 4x400-meter indoor relay of Manny Smith, Anthony Delgado, Cory Engel and Chris Severino bought home the program's first-ever Mountain West title in that event, while Bryce Bergman accounted for the Academy's first conference championship in the 400-meter hurdles. Under his guidance, the Falcons also claimed four all-MW accolades and made seven improvements to the Academy's all-time standings, including 400-meter hurdle times by Emily Cotharn and Rachel Thomas that were the two fastest marks in program history.
"Myself, and our entire coaching staff, are really excited to welcome Devin back to the Air Force Academy," Lindeman said. "I was disheartened when he left here in the fall of 2011 to take a position at a powerhouse track program in the NCAA Division I ranks, knowing that we were losing a 'rising star' in the coaching profession. Nevertheless, we stayed in touch and I was able to continue to mentor Devin as his career took him to several stops at NCAA Power 5 institutions, and with every stop, my admiration for his coaching techniques and recruiting successes grew. What I've particularly appreciated when watching Devin in action was how well he relates to today's student-athletes."
Throughout his 12-year career, West has coached six Olympians, 32 All-Americans, one NCAA champion, 39 conference champions and 70 school record-holders.
After leaving the Academy in 2011, West gained experience at several of the nation's major Power 5 programs, where he developed a reputation as one of the best recruiters in the sport. He signed five No. 1-ranked U.S. High School student-athletes and three No. 1-ranked World Junior student-athletes, while also accounting for four Top-10 recruiting classes (Georgia, Texas Tech, Miami and Florida State).
During his most recent stint at Texas, West assisted head coach Edrick Floreal in coaching the men's and women's sprints and hurdles program – a group that included two program record holders (Jonathon Jones in the 400-meter dash, Micaiah Harris in the 200-meter dash) and 10 All-Americans. He also saw both the men and women place within the top 10 of the 2019 NCAA Outdoor Championships and the women's team sweep the indoor and outdoor titles at the Big 12 Championships that year. In addition, West also assisted Floreal in coaching the 2019 USA Track and Field 100-meter champion, Teahna Daniels.
Prior to his time in Austin, West served as an associate head coach at Arizona State University in 2018. During his time with the Sun Devils, he helped Alethia Marrero run the second-fastest 800-meter time in ASU history, finish second at the PAC-12 Championships and earn second-team All-America honors. With West on the staff, Arizona State's women finished the year ranked No. 12 in the USTFCCCA Top 25 and had a ninth-place finish at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
He spent two years as the recruiting coordinator and sprints coach at the University of Georgia (2015-17), where he was part of some of the most successful seasons for the women in school history. The Bulldogs finished a program-best second at the both the indoor and outdoor championships in 2017, after finishing third at both meets during his first season. He also assisted in the coaching of breakout sophomore Kendal Williams, who earned first-team All-America honors in the 60-meter dash, and oversaw a men's sprint squad that tallied more than one-third of Georgia's point total at the SEC Outdoor Championships.
West also spent time on the coaching staffs at Texas Tech University (2014-15), the University of Miami (2013-14) and Florida State University (2011-13).
During his one season with the Red Raiders, he helped the men finish second at the Big 12 Championships and ninth at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, while the women finished third at the conference meet and earned a top-20 finish at the national meet. While at Miami, West coached the men's 4x100-meter relay to its first regional appearance in four years and helped Artie Burns (currently with the Pittsburgh Steelers) win the ACC title and claim second-team All-America honors in the 60-meter hurdles. In his time with the Seminoles, he assisted the men's 4x100-meter relay team to All-America honors and helped Dentarius Locke and James Harris claim berths to the NCAA Championships.
West got his collegiate coaching start at Kennesaw State in 2007, and was a catalyst for the Owls' dominant run that included four Atlantic Sun Conference titles.
His accomplishments in the college ranks make up just some of the successes of his coaching career. He made a name for himself on the high school and international levels as well, coaching nine Georgia state meet finalists while working as an assistant at Norcross High School. He also sent an athlete to the IAAF World Junior Championships in the 100-meter hurdles in 2010, while coaching a 100-meter dash athlete to the USTF Junior Championships in 2009.
West was a member of the football and track teams at St. Mary's College, before transferring to Morehouse College in Atlanta. He received his degree in interdisciplinary studies from Kennesaw State, while coaching the Owls in 2010. He is also certified as a Level I coach with USA Track and Field.
He married Carley Faith Dart in August 2020.
"When you're hiring a coach at any level and in any sport at the Air Force Academy, it's most important to find an individual who's a good fit for a service academy," Lindeman added. "Devin was a great fit for us from 2010-11 and he will be a great fit again. He understands and appreciates the uniqueness of coaching at this institution. He know what he's getting back into and I know, and trust, who we're getting back as a member of the coaching staff. Knowing the programs he's worked at over the last nine year, and particularly the outstanding coaches he's worked under and learned from, I'm confident the ideas, plans, and methods that Devin suggests to our staff and uses with our cadet-athletes will be a huge benefit to our program."
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