Carl Lewis to join full time UH staff

Legendary Track & Field star and ten-time Olympic medalist (nine gold; one silver) Carl Lewis will join the Houston Cougar Track & Field coaching staff as a full-time member for the upcoming 2014-15 season, head coach Leroy Burrell announced Monday.

Houston Track and Field also named Olympian and former NCAA champion Floyd Heard as its Director of Student-Athlete Development. Heard had previously served as an assistant coach working with hurdlers, sprinters and relays.

"As Director of Student-Athlete Development Floyd will oversee all of the athletes' off-track training," Burrell said. "He will also serve as a liaison for our Strength and Conditioning Program, Cougar Cafe Nutrition Department, Cougar Pride Leadership Academy and Our Academic Center for Excellence. I feel that having an experienced person overseeing those activities are critical to moving our program forward."

Lewis, who served as a volunteer coach during the 2013-14 season and will coach the Cougar sprints and jumps, and joins a staff already loaded with Olympic glory. Burrell, a teammate of Lewis at Houston, and in the Olympics, was a gold medalist at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona in the 4.100 meter relay.

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