Track Names New Assistant Coach
2/13/2018 12:00:00 AM | Track
MALIBU, California – Rainford Hunter, a long-time successful track athlete, coach and administrator, has joined the Pepperdine track program as an assistant coach, Pepperdine Coach Robert Radnoti announced today. "I'm very excited to welcome Rainford to our Pepperdine family," Radnoti said. "He has incredible experience and is going to help take our program to even higher levels. Coming from Jamaica, one of the leading areas in the world for speed development, I see great things in our future with Rainford's leadership."
Hunter replaces Venus Jewett, who spent 4 1/2 seasons assisting the Waves.
"Venus was a tremendous asset to our team, helping guide our women's sprinters and hurdlers to nearly all the school records that exist," Radnoti said. "She created a culture what we will maintain in our program. The team is sincerely so grateful for the years that Venus spent with us, and we wish her the best in her future successes."
While a high school student in Jamaica, Hunter competed at the Penn Relays twice, and he was invited to try out for Jamaica's Olympic team in 1980.
Hunter is a 1983 graduate of Grambling with a degree in industrial technology. He was a four-year member of the track team and ran the 100 and 200 meters.
As a coach, he has USATF Level 1 course participation, USATF Level 2 certification (pending) and USATF Level 3 Speed Summit participation. Most recently, he was the head coach at Guerin Catholic High School in Noblesville, Indiana, and he also held positions at Zionsville High and Pike High in Indiana. He also served an advisor, mentor and manager for more than 30 professional track athletes as the president and CEO of the World-Class Athlete Management Group.
Hunter also earned a master's degree in environmental engineering from the University of New Haven in 1992.
Outdoor track season begins this Saturday (Feb. 17) with the annual three-team meet at Westmont, which also includes UC Santa Barbara.
