University of Southern Indiana Cross Country/Track & Field Head Coach Mike Hillyard announced the hiring of Jamal Johnson as an assistant coach for the Screaming Eagles’ Men’s and Women’s Track & Field teams.
Johnson, who will assist Hillyard in all aspects of the USI Track & Field program, comes to USI after serving as the Head Coach of the Wayne Memorial High School Varsity Track & Field program in Detroit, Michigan.
During his time at WMHS, Johnson designed and implemented training plans, primarily for short and long sprinters; oversaw other staff members on the team; and monitored student athletes’ academic success.
Under Johnson’s tutelage, several WMHS student athletes earned conference and regional championships and posted top-five finishes at the state meet during his four years with the program. He also recently coached the WMHS senior Anavia Battle to a pair of state titles during the indoor and outdoor seasons this past spring and directed Montel Hood to three All-America honors and the Michigan state record in the outdoor 400 meters (:46.29).
At the collegiate level, Johnson served as a volunteer coach at Midwest Region foe Wayne State University, where he facilitated the fall training program for short and long sprinters.
He also was the founder and head coach of the Intensity Track Club and has had numerous athletes qualify and compete at the AAU Junior Olympics from 2014-17, including a pair of AAU national championships in 2017.
“Jamal is a young, ambitious and knowledgeable coach with a proven track record at the high school and club level,” Hillyard said. “He has worked with athletes that have been among the best in the history of Michigan high school track & field.
“He is eager to get started building our sprints, jumps and hurdles group here at USI,” Hillyard continued. “I am confident that his tutelage and expertise will be a key component as we move toward our program goal of competing for GLVC team titles in the very near future.”
A native of Detroit, Johnson graduated from Eastern Michigan University where he earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education and a minor in coaching.
