Long-time South Carolina Track & Field Assistant Head Coach Delethea "Dee" Quarles has announced her decision to become the new Director of Track & Field at James Madison University. Coach Quarles has coached the sport for 32 years, including 25 consecutive years with the Garnet and Black.
"My time here has been a great journey with 25 years of touching the lives of young student-athletes and that is my passion," stated Coach Quarles. "Collegiate sports provides for student-athletes a great preparation before they enter the work force. We as coaches get the opportunity to have some influence and perspective that help prepare them for life. Our sport of track and field represents diversity that I firmly believe can unify the world. I would like to thank Coach Tanner, Athletic Director, for his constant support to our student-athletes and program and his incredible support to my career and Chris Rogers, Associate Athletic Director, for his day-to-day support to assure our team's success. Lastly, I would love to thank Coach Frye and the entire coaching staff. We have all worked tother many years and I've grown so much with their influence. This priceless experience has paved the way for this opportunity to be at James Madison University. I'm forever grateful. #Forevertothee"
Quarles joined the South Carolina program prior to the 1998 season and just four years later helped guide the Gamecocks to the 2002 NCAA Outdoor Team Championship, the first team NCAA Championship in South Carolina Athletics history.
"Coach Dee has meant so much to the program," added Head Coach Curtis Frye. "We have won five conference championships, a national title and have produce many All-Americans. We have been a family. Coach Dee's mother spoke at my mother's funeral, and I spoke at Coach Dee's father's funeral. She is from the grass roots of America; she was raised in a solid community with integrity, and she is a Liberty graduate and has strong Christian values. She is the perfect example for young people growing up. She has mentored many student-athletes and our graduates are excellent. We have doctors, lawyers, engineers, entrepreneurs, and a lot of them were mentored by Coach Dee. Her impact is far reaching for Carolina for many lives to come. I am very happy for Coach Dee as she heads on to coach at James Madison. I could talk forever about a friend and a colleague. They can't ever say that women can't coach men because Coach Dee has coached Olympic Men and Olympic Women. We have a slogan here: 'if it's to be, it's up to me, who can? I can' and she helped me develop that slogan for every Carolina graduate."