Press release...
Olympic gold medalist and longtime coach, Leroy Burrell, has been named Auburn track and field head coach, Athletics Director Allen Greene announced Thursday. Burrell has spent the previous 23 years as head coach at his alma mater, the University of Houston, where he led the program to 41 conference championships and coached over 150 All-Americans.
“When I looked at the history and tradition at Auburn along with the opportunity to compete at the highest level in the Southeastern Conference, the opportunity at this juncture of my career was too good to pass up,” Burrell said. “I've had a wonderful run at Houston and had some struggles the past year. I felt my family and I needed another opportunity to win a national championship and compete at the highest level. I'm not sure I could have found a better opportunity and words can't describe how excited I am to join the Auburn Family and work with the people at Auburn.”
A former world-record holder in the 100-meter dash and a former student-athlete at Houston, Burrell established himself as one of the nation’s premier coaches. In over two decades of Burrell’s leadership, Houston had over 155 NCAA All-Americans and a combined 41 team conference championships.
“The thing I found most attractive about Auburn once I had a chance to look deeper was the people,” Burrell said. “Allen Greene and Brant Ust were unbelievable to talk with from the beginning and were extremely open and honest, and welcoming about Auburn. I want to thank Allen, Brant and President Chris Roberts for this opportunity.”
He was named C-USA Coach of the Year 23 times and American Athletic Conference Coaching Staff of the Year 11 times. In recognition of his outstanding career as a world-class sprinter and collegiate coach, Burrell was inducted into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Southwest Conference Hall of Fame in 2019.
Burrell replaces Ralph Spry, who retired after 25 years at the helm of the Auburn track and field program.
“I want to pay distinct tribute to Ralph Spry who has been a great friend and competitor over the years,” Burrell said. “He led Auburn to a national championship and developed numerous outstanding athletes during his 25-year career. Mel Rosen was my coach at the 1996 Olympic games, so I understand the tradition and history of Auburn track and field. I will work incredibly hard to continue that tradition and build upon the foundation that Coach Rosen, Coach Spry and others before me have established.”
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cougars were well on their way to being one of the best squads in the NCAA yet again. The Cougars swept The American Indoor Track & Field Championships for the second straight year as the men's team won its sixth consecutive ITF conference title and the women secured their second.
In 2019, Houston showed little signs of slowing down earning its second straight third-place finish at the NCAA Outdoor Championships behind a trio of podium finish performances. The Cougars continued to have immense success during the 2017-18 season as the Cougars won their second straight NCAA title in the 4x100-meter relay. It would be a remarkable year for the Cougars as Burrell’s son, Cameron, would become an individual national champion, claiming the title in the 100-meter with a time of 10.02 to become the program’s first national champion in the event since his father earned the title in 1990. That very same year, Houston earned its first of back-to-back third-place finishes at the outdoor championships.
“Houston has been my home for 36 years. I came as a freshman in 1985 and it grew me into the person I am today. I wouldn't be who I am today without my teammates and training partner Carl Lewis as well as Coach Tom Tellez who groomed me into the coaching profession,” Burrell said. “I can't thank enough the UH team, staff and Chris Pezman, DeJuena Chizer and Lauren DuBois for their support. Houston has been my home and will always be in me, but I'm flying out of the nest to soar with Auburn.”
Olympic gold medalist and longtime coach, Leroy Burrell, has been named Auburn track and field head coach, Athletics Director Allen Greene announced Thursday. Burrell has spent the previous 23 years as head coach at his alma mater, the University of Houston, where he led the program to 41 conference championships and coached over 150 All-Americans.
“When I looked at the history and tradition at Auburn along with the opportunity to compete at the highest level in the Southeastern Conference, the opportunity at this juncture of my career was too good to pass up,” Burrell said. “I've had a wonderful run at Houston and had some struggles the past year. I felt my family and I needed another opportunity to win a national championship and compete at the highest level. I'm not sure I could have found a better opportunity and words can't describe how excited I am to join the Auburn Family and work with the people at Auburn.”
A former world-record holder in the 100-meter dash and a former student-athlete at Houston, Burrell established himself as one of the nation’s premier coaches. In over two decades of Burrell’s leadership, Houston had over 155 NCAA All-Americans and a combined 41 team conference championships.
“The thing I found most attractive about Auburn once I had a chance to look deeper was the people,” Burrell said. “Allen Greene and Brant Ust were unbelievable to talk with from the beginning and were extremely open and honest, and welcoming about Auburn. I want to thank Allen, Brant and President Chris Roberts for this opportunity.”
He was named C-USA Coach of the Year 23 times and American Athletic Conference Coaching Staff of the Year 11 times. In recognition of his outstanding career as a world-class sprinter and collegiate coach, Burrell was inducted into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Southwest Conference Hall of Fame in 2019.
Burrell replaces Ralph Spry, who retired after 25 years at the helm of the Auburn track and field program.
“I want to pay distinct tribute to Ralph Spry who has been a great friend and competitor over the years,” Burrell said. “He led Auburn to a national championship and developed numerous outstanding athletes during his 25-year career. Mel Rosen was my coach at the 1996 Olympic games, so I understand the tradition and history of Auburn track and field. I will work incredibly hard to continue that tradition and build upon the foundation that Coach Rosen, Coach Spry and others before me have established.”
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cougars were well on their way to being one of the best squads in the NCAA yet again. The Cougars swept The American Indoor Track & Field Championships for the second straight year as the men's team won its sixth consecutive ITF conference title and the women secured their second.
In 2019, Houston showed little signs of slowing down earning its second straight third-place finish at the NCAA Outdoor Championships behind a trio of podium finish performances. The Cougars continued to have immense success during the 2017-18 season as the Cougars won their second straight NCAA title in the 4x100-meter relay. It would be a remarkable year for the Cougars as Burrell’s son, Cameron, would become an individual national champion, claiming the title in the 100-meter with a time of 10.02 to become the program’s first national champion in the event since his father earned the title in 1990. That very same year, Houston earned its first of back-to-back third-place finishes at the outdoor championships.
“Houston has been my home for 36 years. I came as a freshman in 1985 and it grew me into the person I am today. I wouldn't be who I am today without my teammates and training partner Carl Lewis as well as Coach Tom Tellez who groomed me into the coaching profession,” Burrell said. “I can't thank enough the UH team, staff and Chris Pezman, DeJuena Chizer and Lauren DuBois for their support. Houston has been my home and will always be in me, but I'm flying out of the nest to soar with Auburn.”
