The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS 2016 Olympic relay coach Shaun Miller was elected as the new president of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Coaches during the elections of the annual general meeting at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium on Saturday.

Miller, head coach of the Bahamas Speed Dynamics, was elected after he won over Patrick Adderley. The father of Olympic (2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) gold medallist Shaunae Miller replaced Curtis Pride, who didn’t seek re-election.

Also elected to serve with Miller over the next two years are Rudolph Ferguson as first vice president, winning over former sprinter Ravanno Ferguson from Grand Bahama, while Jason Larrimore, also from Grand Bahama, went in unopposed as second vice president.

Additionally, Cedricka Rolle is the secretary general, winning the position over Lakeitha Charlton, who assumed the post of assistant secretary. And Dawn Johnson was elected unopposed as treasurer.

Six persons ran for four spots as board members. Elected were David Ferguson, Andrew Tynes, Rickey Moxey and Christian Knowles. They won over Peter Pratt and Clarita Hall.

A total of 120 coaches were registered and 106 cast their votes.

Miller, the relay coach for the Olympic team last year, said after he was approached by various coaches to run, he gladly accepted the challenge.

“They felt as if they needed someone to go out there and plead their case,” Miller said in an interview to Bahamas Athletics immediately following the elections.

First and foremost on the agenda for Miller is to get the proper funding in place for the BAAC.

“This organisation has been around for some time now, but we’ve always had a problem with funding. If you can fund the elite athletes, then I feel as if you can fund the elite coaches, or the elite coaches’ programme because that is what each and every one of these coaches are in the Bahamas.

“So I’m looking for funding from the government. That is one of my immediate plans.”

Now that he’s in the chair as the president of the association, Miller said he’s going to try his best to ensure that all of the coaches are treated fairly.

“I intend to be your servant for the next two years,” he stated. “I hope that can make a difference. When they elected me, they elected me to use me and I intend to make a difference.”

Miller said he’s pleased with his team of officers, starting with Ferguson, whom he has credited for his longevity, and Larrimore, who will be responsible for Grand Bahama.

Rolle, who started out coaching at the primary school level, has also been around the sport as a former athlete and Miller said she will have her workload ahead of her.

“She seems to love kids and is well educated, so her job is cut out for her,” Miller said. “Her assistant, Mrs Charlton, came from BACO Bahamas Association of Certified Officials), so she brings a new twist. So I’m expecting a lot out of her.”

As for the rest of the members, including those on the board, Miller said he’s just as excited about what they all bring to the table and he’s confident that with the team assembled, they will get the job done.

Miller said even after the election was done, his opponent Patrick Adderley came over and congratulated him and consented to assist in whatever way he can.