Two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Roger Kingdom enters his eighth year working with the cross country and track & field programs at California University of Pennsylvania. Kingdom, the former world and American record holder in the 110-meter hurdles, serves as the Director of the Track & Field and Cross Country programs at Cal U.
Kingdom is a five-time United States Outdoor Champion (1985, 1988-90 and 1995) and two-time gold medalist at the Pan American Games (1983, 1995). He also holds a World Cup gold medal (1989) and won gold at the World University Games in 1989.
He remains one of only two runners to ever win consecutive Olympic titles in the 110-meter hurdles (1984 Los Angeles, 1988 Seoul).
A native of Georgia, he joined the Cal U athletic program in 2004 before being named interim head track & field coach in March of the following year. Shortly thereafter, he accepted the director position for both the cross country and track & field programs.
In his time as head coach, Kingdom has mentored a handful of All-Americans as well as several Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) indoor and outdoor champions.
Under Kingdom’s supervision Cal U has had at least one All-American in each of the last five years, including four-time member Christopher Clark (5,000- and 10,000-meter run) and five-time honoree Brice Myers (60- and 110-meter hurdles). The women’s program has also had two All-Americans, with current assistant coach Danielle Malay receiving honors in the 400-meter hurdles in 2008 and Clare McSweeney earning recognition in the 800-meter run in 2010.
One of the most decorated athletes in Cal U history, Kingdom mentored 14-time PSAC Champion and two-time All-American Brad Rager, who excelled in the 200- and 400-meter dashes.
In 2006, Kingdom and the Vulcans hosted the PSAC Championships for the first time in program history, and two years later the men’s team posted its best finish in school history at the indoor league championships.
Kingdom is a 2002 graduate from Pittsburgh and played football for the Panthers in the 1980s before concentrating his efforts on his track & field career.
He set the world record of 12.92 seconds in the 110-meter hurdles in Zurich, Switzerland in 1989. Kingdom retired from active competition in 1998 and in 2005, Kingdom was inducted in to the USA Track & Field (USATF) Hall of Fame.
Last year, Kingdom was an inaugural inductee into the USATF Georgia Hall of Fame. While an Olympic hurdler, he was a two-time state champion in the 120 hurdles, high jump and discus and twice was selected Outstanding Track & Field Athlete in Georgia.
