GLASSBORO, NJ – Rowan University assistant track and field coach Norm Tate has been selected to coach Team USA that will compete at the Five Nations Match on Saturday, January 30 in Glasgow, Scotland.
In addition to the United States, the Five Nations Match includes the British Commonwealth, Germany, Great Britain and Sweden. The match consists of one athlete in each event from the five nations that earn points towards the teams’ overall total.
“After having represented the country and coaching, this is the next highest honor in the sport,” stated Tate. “I have stayed involved in track after most athletes in the 60’s did not continue in the sport. I started in 1973 and have coached individuals, high school and college at all levels. I really feel this is the highlight of my coaching career.”
“It was an honor just to be considered,” Tate continued. “I am really looking forward to it. I have always wanted my life to be like my former coach Dr. Walker. He was the 1976 Olympic coach and President of the U.S. Olympic Committee.”
Lolo Jones (60 meter hurdles) will be the captain for Team USA. Jones was the 2008 Olympic trials champion and the 2008 World Indoor Champion. She is joined on the roster by Lindsay Allen (3000 meters), Heidi Dahl (1500 meters), Debbie Dunn (400 meters), Laura Hermanson (800 meters), Chaunte Howard (high jump), Carmelita Jeter (60 meters) and LaShauntea Moore (200 meters). Dunn earned a gold medal on the 4x400 meter relay at the 2009 World Outdoor Championships. Howard is a three-time USA Outdoor Champion and a World Outdoor Silver Medalist. At the World Outdoor Championships, Jeter was a bronze medalist twice.
On the men’s side, the team includes Shawn Crawford (200 meters), Mark Jelks (60 meters), David Oliver (60 meter hurdles), Miguel Pate (long jump), Stephen Pifer (3000 meters), Brandon Roulhac (triple jump), Jeremy Scott (pole vault), Jamaal Torrance (400 meters) and Karjuan Williams (800 meters). Crawford won the gold in the 200 meters at the 2004 Olympics. Oliver was a bronze medalist at the 2008 Olympics in the 110 meter hurdles. Pate qualified for the 2008 Olympics. In the triple jump, Roulhac captured the 2009 USA indoor and outdoor titles. Scott was the 2009 USA Indoor Champion and the 2009 USA Outdoor Runner-Up.
In his second season, Tate instructs the sprinters, hurdlers and jumpers for the Rowan men’s and women’s track and field teams. Prior to Rowan, Tate was an assistant coach for the Richard Stockton College men’s and women’s track and field teams from 2007-08. Tate worked at the Hilton Hotel & Casino Resort in Atlantic City, NJ from 1986-2006. He was an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) manager.
Tate was the head coach of the men’s and women’s track and field team at Hempstead High School in Hempstead, NY from 1981-86. He led the women’s team to the Nassau County Championship in 1985 and 1986. Tate served as an assistant coach for the men’s track team at Manhattan College for two years (1974-76).
Tate provides the Profs with international competition experience. He was a member of the 1968 United States Olympic Team in the triple jump. Tate captured the United States National Championship in the long jump in 1966, 1969 and 1970. He was the U.S. Champion in the triple jump in 1969, 1970 and 1971.
In 1966, Tate graduated from North Carolina Central University with a bachelor’s of science degree in physical education. He was a member of the Eagles’ track and field teams from 1961-65. During that time, Tate earned NCAA All-American honors three times (1963, 1964 and 1965) and was a two-time NAIA All-American selection (1964 and 1965). He was named the Outstanding Athlete at the 1964 Penn Relays. At the 1965 NAIA Championships, Tate was selected the meet’s Outstanding Athlete. In 1985, Tate was inducted into the North Carolina Hall of Fame. He also joined the Penn Relays Hall of Fame in 1994.
