Coach Keith L. Cole has established himself as one of the premier sprint coaches in the Gulf South Conference, building a reputation for developing elite student-athletes both on and off the track. Since joining University of West Alabama, Coach Cole has transformed the Tigers’ sprint program into one of the conference’s elites, producing conference champions, All-Americans, record holders, and national qualifiers while mentoring student-athletes to succeed in life beyond the track.
Before joining the collegiate ranks, Coach Cole spent five successful years coaching at Kemper County High School. During that time, his teams won district championships every season, advanced to the state championships all five years, and produced numerous individual state champions. One of his standout athletes, Shekenye Darden, was named the 2022 Premier Preps Mississippi Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year.
A hallmark of Coach Cole’s success is his consistency. His sprint group has qualified for the NCAA National Championships every year he has coached at UWA. During his tenure, he has coached eight First Team All-American selections, demonstrating his ability to develop athletes capable of competing at the highest level of collegiate track and field.
Kaitlin Hill enjoyed an outstanding 2023 season, capturing GSC Championships in both the 100 meters and 200 meters, earning First Team All-GSC honors, and qualifying for the NCAA National Championships in the 100 meters, 200 meters, and 4x100-meter relay. She continued to qualify for the NCAA Championships throughout her collegiate career.
Coach Cole has coached numerous conference champions and nationally recognized athletes. Brynesha Bourrage won the 2024 GSC Championship in the 400 meters, earned USTFCCCA All-Region honors, and received First Team All-GSC recognition after finishing sixth in the NCAA South Region.
Coach Cole also coached Brayden Harris to the 2025 Gulf South Conference Championship in the 110-meter hurdles, adding another conference title to the program’s growing list of accomplishments.
Among his most accomplished athletes is Balkis Yakubu, one of the most decorated sprinters in Gulf South Conference history. Yakubu earned 2025 Gulf South Conference Women’s Track Athlete of the Year, 2025 GSC Champion in the 100 meters, First Team All-GSC, 2025 GSC All-Academic, and was named GSC Women’s Track Athlete of the Week four times. In 2024, she was named USTFCCCA South Region Track Athlete of the Year while earning First Team All-American honors in both the 100 meters (4th nationally) and 200 meters (7th nationally). She also received USTFCCCA All-Region honors in both events and was named the 2024 GSC Women’s Track Athlete of the Year.
Under Coach Cole’s guidance, Yakubu rewrote both the UWA and Gulf South Conference record books. Her times of 11.27 in the 100 meters and 23.16 in the 200 meters remain both UWA and GSC records. She also holds the all-time GSC Championship meet records in both events, breaking her own championship records multiple times.
In 2026, J'Da Williams emerged as one of the conference’s brightest stars under Coach Cole’s leadership. She won the GSC Championship in the 100 meters, helped lead the 4x100-meter relay team to a GSC Championship, earned GSC Freshman of the Year, received First Team All-GSC honors both indoors and outdoors, and earned First Team All-American honors after placing fifth nationally in the 100 meters.
In 2026, Coach Cole led another historic milestone by coaching UWA’s first-ever Gulf South Conference Indoor Championship women’s 4x400-meter relay team, marking a significant achievement in the university’s track and field history.
Coach Cole’s own collegiate career began at Hinds Community College before continuing at Jackson State University, where he competed in the 100 meters, 200 meters, and 4x100-meter relay while helping the Tigers win back-to-back indoor conference championships.
Beyond wins and records, Coach Cole’s greatest passion is developing young people. A behavioral counselor with three college degrees, he has helped countless student-athletes earn college scholarships and educational opportunities. In 2021, he founded the Cole Dream Team AAU Track Club to provide mentorship and competitive opportunities for young athletes. A certified USATF Sprints and Jumps Coach and dedicated community activist, Coach Cole has become a trusted mentor and father figure for many young people, particularly those from underserved communities. His commitment extends to athletes of every background, believing that opportunity, discipline, and encouragement should be available to all.
