USC Upstate Adds Track and Cross Country


With USC Upstate’s move to Division I in 2007-08, the University has added men’s and women’s track & field and cross country to bring the number of sports offered at USC Upstate to 15, surpassing the necessary 14 sports required to compete on the NCAA Division I level. In addition, the University has selected Jimmy Stephens to head the cross country and track and field programs for the Spartans.

To read the full USC Upstate press release, go to this link.

Interview: New USC Upstate Coach Jimmy Stephens
Full Name: James Alton Stephens, Jr. (Jimmy)
Hometown: Spartanburg
Hobbies: Lounging at the Lake, gardening, stacking hurdles, taping poles, timing races
Years involved with track and field: 24
Other background knowledge: Coached at Alabama, Wofford, Furman, USC, President of SC-USATF

scrunners: How did you get started and when in the sports?
stephens: I started like most kids in baseball and football but I was pretty gangly and really did not fit their mold. When I was I a kid in 1976 I saw the pole vault on the Olympics and fell in love. Once I got to high school my main objective was to pole vault and the rest is history. Track and field became my life.

scrunners: How have you seen the sport progress?
stephens: Locally we are fortunate to have Val Beesley as our youth chair for SC-USATF and our youth program has grown exponentially. I think the success of this program is evident in our high school programs. Nationally and internationally our sport has gone through some very hard times with the abuse of controlled substances and the media's obsession with this aspect of our sport rather than performances. They always seemed to ignore the fact that our sport was the first and still the most stringent when it comes to testing. Now track and field seems to be on an up swing with some really good television coverage and some great stories. The women's pole vault is one of the great stories and has helped push the sport forward.

scrunners: How did you find out about the opening at USC Upstate?
stephens: A friend of mine, Jack Todd (editor's note: Eye Opener director), called me and told me about the position.

scrunners: What were you thoughts on taking the position and leaving your current job in Mt. Pleasant?
stephens: My first thought was, wow, what an opportunity. Just seeing the push for the program and the support it was getting was overwhelming. To come home and build a program from scratch, again, is something I can not pass up. It was difficult to leave some really good friends and a greatorganization like they have at the Mt. Pleasant Recreation Department. The things we were able to accomplish in a short amount of time were great. I knew the Mt. Pleasant track club was in very good hands with Tami Dennis, Peggy Klimecki, and Paul Wood. They along with the kids and parents are the heart and soul of the track club.

scrunners: How will this job change your duties with the USATF-SC organization?
stephens: I plan to continue to work heavily with USATF-SC. It is my responsibility as a coach and someone who loves the sport to stay involve in every level of our sport.

scrunners: What kind of challenges do you see ahead as you are rebuilding a program that was dropped?
stephens: I am looking at this as a fresh start. We will face the challenges that all other programs face. We will not have that base of athletes to draw from that other schools may have. This just means more opportunities for recruits coming into the program. Recruiting is the key to any program; getting athletes into our track and field and cross country family who love the sport and want to compete at the college level is crucial. The upstate and the state as a whole is full of athletes that have the potential to run in college and I want them! Getting alumni support is going to be a challenge. There were some hard feelings when the program was dropped. Sometimes in life you have to take a step back to move forward. The support Mr. Hall and the school are giving this program is tremendous. I can tell you without a doubt the athletic department and school are totally committed to the program. That step back has moved the program ten steps forward. Getting a track facility built is on of the other challenges and objectives.

scrunners: Where are the areas you think you will focus on your recruiting?
stephens: We are going to focus on every event in track and field. Initially our focus will be on distance runners. We must have distance runners to field a cross country team and that carries over into track and field. But, we are going to be a well rounded program in every event.

scrunners: What do you look for in athletes when recruiting?
stephens: Potential, desire, and heart.

scrunners: What kind of facilities are in the plans at USC Upstate to support the sports?
stephens: We are looking at building a top-notch track & field facility. All you have to do is look at the facilities USC Upstate has built over the past several years. They are second to none. We have already identified some potential donors and other sources of revenue. We also have the best cross country course and training area anywhere in the United States at Milliken.

scrunners: Do you see the school hosting meets in the future?
stephens: Definitely! We will host at least one cross country meet next year.

scrunners: Are you going to have assistants to help in the process of growing the programs?
stephens: This first year of building I will be on my own but next year I will have full time assistant and a part time assistant.

scrunners: What would you like to see achieved with this program?
stephens: 1. Building great student-athletes.
2. Atlantic Sun Conference Champions.
3. Regional and national qualifiers.

scrunners: How do you see yourself and the program reaching these achievements?
stephens: 1. Assemble a family of committed athletes and coaches who want to build a great program and leave a legacy of great track and field and cross country. 2. Give those coaches and athletes the resources and support they need to become the best they can be in the classroom and on the track. 3. Total commitment and heart!