Derrick Adkins Named Track & Field Director at The Armory

Derrick Adkins, 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist and World 400 meter hurdle champion, has been named new Track & Field Director at The Armory, New York City.  Derrick succeeds founding director Ed Small and will also serve as the coordinator of The Armory Prep Educational Program for High School students.

Dr. Norbert Sander, president of The Armory Foundation, made the announcement today in New York City. “Ed Small did a great job for us, getting the Armory off the ground in 1993 and we are fortunate to have someone the quality of Derrick to take the baton from him at this important juncture of great expansion at the New Balance Track & Field Center.”

Derrick attended Malverne High School on Long Island and Georgia Tech in Atlanta, where he received a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1993.

For the next ten years, he pursued his goal of being an international track and field champion.  The highlights of those years are two United States national titles (1994 & 1995), two World University Games Championships (1991 & 1993), a Goodwill Games gold medal (1994), a World Championship gold medal (1995) and a 1996 Olympic Gold Medal in the 400 meter hurdles.

Derrick Adkins comes to The Armory Foundation with great experience from his former position at Columbia University where he helped build a small sprint program into a major Ivy League contender in less than two years.

Derrick has committed many hours to motivating students in primary and secondary schools as well as universities with lessons in goal-setting, achievement, hard work, clean living and the necessity to believe in one’s self.  Derrick’s proven leadership and educational abilities, combined with his exceptional athletic and academic success (Dean’s List Honors while at Georgia Tech) make him the ideal mentor and role model for many generations of young scholar athletes who will train here at The Armory Foundation.

Derrick Adkins: “I am very happy to come on staff at The Armory Foundation.  I have been a supporter for years for all the great work being done on behalf of the young athletes here in New York City, so I welcome a chance to work full time with our student-athletes and potentially future Olympians.”