Sandiford named head Track Coach

Julia Sandiford, former assistant men's and women's track and field and cross country coach at Long Island University, was promoted to head coach this afternoon. She replaces Jonathan Carter, who resigned in June to pursue his goal of competing in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia.

In two years as an assistant, Sandiford has been an instrumental figure in the resurrection of the LIU track and cross-country programs. The Blackbirds sprint and relay teams have established themselves among the most formidable on the East Coast, capturing 20 individual and team conference championships. She has also helped to mentor two NCAA Provisional Qualifiers and has been heavily involved in the Blackbirds' recruiting process.

Before her arrival in 1997, she was an assistant men's and women's track coach at SUNY-Albany, which produced eight All-Americans.

A native of St. Michael, Barbados, Sandiford was a two-time NCAA champion and seven-time NCAA All-American at Seton Hall University. A 1995 GTE Academic All-American as a senior, she graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing.

"Julia earned this position by doing a great job of rebuilding this program," said director of athletics John Suarez. "She brings plenty of knowledge and energy to the job and I am sure she will able to continue the progress that she helped to begin."