California University President Dr. Angelo Armenti, Jr., announced the promotion of former U.S. Olympic gold medalist Roger Kingdom to head coach of the men's and women's track & field and cross country teams.
Kingdom assumed the responsibilities as the interim coach in March, 2005.
'This promotion is a validation of the confidence we have in Roger Kingdom to build our track & field and our cross country teams into high-profile PSAC and NCAA programs,' Armenti said.
'Roger successfully guided the track & field teams through a difficult transition in the spring. He developed and has begun the implementation of a strong long-range plan for the success of the teams. I believe he will continue to improve and bring prominence to the University and the athletic department,' he said.
Kingdom guided the Vulcans' men's team to eighth place in the 2005 PSAC Outdooor Championship meet, which included an MVP and Rookie of the Year performance by sprinter Brad Rager (Bristol, Pa./Truman).
Originally from Vienna, Ga., Kingdom won the gold medal in the 110-meter high hurdles at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics. He is a five-time U.S. champion and won gold medals in the 1989 World Cup, 1989 World University Games and the 1989 and 1995 Pan Am Games.
He set the world record of 12.92 in the 110-meter high hurdles in Zurich, Switzerland in 1989, surpassing the mark set by Renaldo Nehemiah. He retired from active competition in 1998.
Kingdom is a 2002 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, where he competed for the Panthers football team. He joined the Cal U. track & field coaching staff in 2004 to work primarily with the sprinters, hurdlers and throwers as well as assist in recruiting, summer camps and fundraising.
