The Tribune

UB Athletics has hired former track and field national team hurdler Ednal Rolle as the first full-time head coach at the institution. The internationally certified coach takes the reigns of the programme starting today.

“We are excited to have such a high-calibre coach such as Ednal join the UB Athletics team as the first full-time coach,” said athletics director Kimberley Rolle.

“This is the first in what is anticipated to be several strategic hirings over the next two to three years to ensure consistency in recruitment, retention, and high level performances from varsity teams.”

Rolle pointed out the accomplishments coach Rolle has had in the past, including coaching numerous national team members and national record holders.

“He has played a huge role in the success of our national record holder Ken Mullings and many other national team members,” she said.

“We expect him to bring that same excellence to UB Track and Field and UB Cross Country.”

Coach Rolle previously was the assistant coach and then interim head coach of the UB track and field programme.

He also coached at the high school level at several institutions, including LN Coakley High School in Exuma and most-recently four-time champion CR Walker Knights.

“This is a tremendous opportunity and I am excited to be the very first full-time head coach at UB,” coach Rolle said.

“At the same time, I know we have a lot of work to do and a lot to accomplish to make UB Track and Field one of the premier programmes and a programme that attracts the best talent in the country to take advantage of the opportunities here at home.”

Rolle will be responsible for developing a cross country programme in the immediate future for UB Athletics. He is the 2000 NCAA DII CIAA Conference champion in the 400m hurdles for St Augustine’s College in Raleigh, North Carolina.

He is also a double silver medallist from the 1997 CARIFTA Track and Field Championships in Barbados.

Also in 1997, he was a Pan American Games 400m hurdles finalist and was on the silver medal-winning 4x400m relay team that set a Bahamian junior record.

He also finished 4th in the 400m hurdles at the Sr CAC Track and Field Championships in 2001 and 4th at the Pan American Games in the same event in 2002.

UB Athletics currently competes in track and field for men and women along with men’s soccer, men’s basketball, women’s volleyball, women’s softball, men’s golf, and judo for men and women.