Ten days in to FAMU athletics self-imposed hiring freeze, the department has announced the appointment of Nadia Alexander-Pompey as the head women’s track and field/cross country coach. Alexander-Pompey comes to FAMU from Mississippi Valley State University where she was head track and field/cross country coach with responsibility for the men’s and women’s programs.
“We are extremely excited to have Nadia join our athletic program,” Florida A&M Director of Athletics Dr. John Eason said. “She has a tremendous history of working in HBCU’s and has an excellent track record of seeing her student-athletes perform well on the track and in the classroom.”
In her inaugural season (2018), MVSU had five student-athletes competing at the NCAA East Prelims in Jacksonville, Fla. which is the most ever in school history. MVSU featured two runners in the men’s 400m event, the men’s 4x400m relay team, and a women’s shot-put thrower all qualified for the postseason. In addition to achieving success during competition, MVSU excelled in academics. The women’s outdoor track & field team boasted a team GPA of 3.44 and earned a spot on the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team along with two athletes who received individual All-Academic honors.
Prior to MVSU, Alexander-Pompey served as the head coach of the cross-country/track and field programs at Shaw University, a Division II program, in Raleigh, N.C. for two years. During the 2017-18 season at Shaw, the individual winner of the men’s cross country conference championships was her freshman runner while the women’s cross country team finished with an all-conference performer. In the spring, the women’s outdoor team elevated to a new level breaking nine school records with four student-athletes provisionally qualifying for the Division II NCAA Championships.
The women’s outdoor team placed fourth overall improving from a seventh-place showing a season ago at the conference outdoor championships. Eight Bears medaled and three were crowned individual event winners. The last time the Bears women’s outdoor team finished in the top-four of the conference outdoor championships were back in 2008. The accolades continued for the Bears program. Five student-athletes were named to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) all-region team with four qualifying for the Division II NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships; two of which competed in the championships and one was named a second-team all-American. Additionally, the USTFCCCA recognized the 2018 Shaw Bears women’s outdoor team for their work in the classroom with an All-Academic Team award while three Bears were named to the All-Academic Team.
In Alexander-Pompey's first year at Shaw, the women's outdoor track and field team had a breakthrough season. The Bears had a women’s Division II NCAA Outdoor Championship participant, which was last achieved in 2002. Her student-athlete earned second-team All-American honors as well as Academic All-American accolades. In addition, two student-athletes were named to the USTFCCCA All-Region Team.
Before arriving at Shaw, Alexander-Pompey spent three years at The Lincoln University (Pa.) as an assistant coach for the cross country/track and field programs overseeing the Lions’ field events. During her tenure at Lincoln, she coached four Division II NCAA National qualifiers (shot-put, discus, & long jump), five conference champions (shot-put & discus) and one Field MVP honoree of the conference outdoor championships. In addition, Alexander-Pompey has coached one third-place finisher (women’s indoor high jump), and 17 All-CIAA top eight performances honorees. Academically, she had the privilege of coaching two Academic All-Americans and the 2015 women’s track & field team that earned All-Academic Team Honors by having a team GPA of over a 3.0.
Previously, Alexander-Pompey served on the Virginia State University coaching staff from 2011-2013. During her tenure at VSU, she coached 29 All-CIAA performances including two CIAA Champions and 12 top-three performers.
In Alexander-Pompey's first year at Shaw, the women's outdoor track and field team had a breakthrough season. The Bears had a women’s Division II NCAA Outdoor Championship participant, which was last achieved in 2002. Her student-athlete earned second-team All-American honors as well as Academic All-American accolades. In addition, two student-athletes were named to the USTFCCCA All-Region Team.
Before arriving at Shaw, Alexander-Pompey spent three years at The Lincoln University (Pa.) as an assistant coach for the cross country/track and field programs overseeing the Lions’ field events. During her tenure at Lincoln, she coached four Division II NCAA National qualifiers (shot-put, discus, & long jump), five conference champions (shot-put & discus) and one Field MVP honoree of the conference outdoor championships. In addition, Alexander-Pompey has coached one third-place finisher (women’s indoor high jump), and 17 All-CIAA top eight performances honorees. Academically, she had the privilege of coaching two Academic All-Americans and the 2015 women’s track & field team that earned All-Academic Team Honors by having a team GPA of over a 3.0.
Previously, Alexander-Pompey served on the Virginia State University coaching staff from 2011-2013. During her tenure at VSU, she coached 29 All-CIAA performances including two CIAA Champions and 12 top-three performers.