TEMPE – The Arizona State track and field program made one final addition to its coaching staff as the Sun Devils welcomed former Georgia assistant Javonie Small, director of track and field Greg Kraft announced Wednesday.
"I am extremely grateful and excited to be a part of the ASU family," Small said. "I knew immediately after meeting with the coaches and support staff that we would do great things together."
Small spent four years in Athens as a volunteer assistant and director of operations for the Bulldogs, and worked with current Sun Devil sprints coach Devin West during his tenure.
"I am looking forward to also having the opportunity to work with coach Devin West," Small said. "Coach West and I worked together at the University of Georgia and I believe we will continue to be a dynamic team here at ASU."
The Brookshire, Texas, native worked alongside the Bulldog staff and student-athletes during a time of unprecedented success at UGA.
"We had a lot of candidates come through, and Javonie really stood out," West said. "He's been around a lot of success in his career, and it was clear that he had a high work ethic and knew how to relate to student-athletes."
As a volunteer assistant at Georgia, Small worked under coach Petros Kyprianou and had the opportunity to work with several notable athletes, including American triple jump record-holder and Olympian Ketura Orji, and Olympian heptathlete Kendall Williams.
Both women mastered their respective fields while at Georgia. Williams was a seven-time NCAA champion, and Orji won five NCAA titles and two gold medals at the U.S. Outdoor Championships.
"I look forward to supporting coach Kraft in his mission and vision and would like to thank him for believing in me enough to give me this amazing opportunity," Small said. "I would also like to thank coach Kyprianou and the staff at UGA for providing me with opportunities at Georgia that have allowed me to go to the next level in collegiate coaching."
Prior to his time in the NCAA, Small spent several years as a coach in the youth and high school ranks in the state of Georgia.
Small earned his degree in sociology from the prestigious Morehouse College in Atlanta. While at Morehouse, Small was an outstanding sprinter on the Maroon Tigers.
He was a six-time All-American in the 400-meter hurdles twice, 110-meter hurdles twice, and 4x100-and 4x400-meter relays. He was dominant in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, as he won eight SIAC titles on the track.
"I also want to thank Wayne Norton who gave me that opportunity to be a volunteer coach at Georgia, and coach John Stewart for all of the help he provided me post-collegiately," Small said.
The former Texas high school state champion in the 110 hurdles also competed at the U.S. Championships in 2006 and 2007. He advanced to the semifinal of the 400-meter hurdles at the championships in 2006 and finished 15th overall.
Small made the move to Tempe with his wife Sherena. She is a Portland, Oregon, native and was a triple jumper at the University of Nevada – Reno.
"I believe in this program and have been very impressed with the success and national championships that coach Kraft and his teams have brought to ASU," Small said. "I am excited to help ASU win more championships."
"I am extremely grateful and excited to be a part of the ASU family," Small said. "I knew immediately after meeting with the coaches and support staff that we would do great things together."
Small spent four years in Athens as a volunteer assistant and director of operations for the Bulldogs, and worked with current Sun Devil sprints coach Devin West during his tenure.
"I am looking forward to also having the opportunity to work with coach Devin West," Small said. "Coach West and I worked together at the University of Georgia and I believe we will continue to be a dynamic team here at ASU."
The Brookshire, Texas, native worked alongside the Bulldog staff and student-athletes during a time of unprecedented success at UGA.
"We had a lot of candidates come through, and Javonie really stood out," West said. "He's been around a lot of success in his career, and it was clear that he had a high work ethic and knew how to relate to student-athletes."
As a volunteer assistant at Georgia, Small worked under coach Petros Kyprianou and had the opportunity to work with several notable athletes, including American triple jump record-holder and Olympian Ketura Orji, and Olympian heptathlete Kendall Williams.
Both women mastered their respective fields while at Georgia. Williams was a seven-time NCAA champion, and Orji won five NCAA titles and two gold medals at the U.S. Outdoor Championships.
"I look forward to supporting coach Kraft in his mission and vision and would like to thank him for believing in me enough to give me this amazing opportunity," Small said. "I would also like to thank coach Kyprianou and the staff at UGA for providing me with opportunities at Georgia that have allowed me to go to the next level in collegiate coaching."
Prior to his time in the NCAA, Small spent several years as a coach in the youth and high school ranks in the state of Georgia.
Small earned his degree in sociology from the prestigious Morehouse College in Atlanta. While at Morehouse, Small was an outstanding sprinter on the Maroon Tigers.
He was a six-time All-American in the 400-meter hurdles twice, 110-meter hurdles twice, and 4x100-and 4x400-meter relays. He was dominant in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, as he won eight SIAC titles on the track.
"I also want to thank Wayne Norton who gave me that opportunity to be a volunteer coach at Georgia, and coach John Stewart for all of the help he provided me post-collegiately," Small said.
The former Texas high school state champion in the 110 hurdles also competed at the U.S. Championships in 2006 and 2007. He advanced to the semifinal of the 400-meter hurdles at the championships in 2006 and finished 15th overall.
Small made the move to Tempe with his wife Sherena. She is a Portland, Oregon, native and was a triple jumper at the University of Nevada – Reno.
"I believe in this program and have been very impressed with the success and national championships that coach Kraft and his teams have brought to ASU," Small said. "I am excited to help ASU win more championships."