After spending the last seven years at St John’s and last season as an associate head coach, four-time Guyanese Olympian Aliann Pompey has been appointed head coach of the school’s Track and Field and Cross Country programme.

The 43-year-old Pompey replaces Jim Hurt, who retired in May after a head coaching career lasting 40 years.  St John’s Director of Athletics Mike Cragg made the announcement on Wednesday.

"During my tenure at St. John's, Coach Pompey has demonstrated time and time again that she has what it takes to lead a high-calibre program of her own," he said.

 "In addition to being an outstanding athlete in her own right with national championship pedigree, she has shown that she possesses the rare ability to elevate the talents of the athletes she mentors and help them reach their full potential.  I have the utmost confidence that Coach Pompey will continue to help the track & field program reach new heights as its head coach."

In accepting the position, Pompey said she plans to make St John’s a major force in collegiate athletics.

 "I want to thank Mike Cragg for his vote of confidence and his support in appointing me as the head coach," she said.

"It is with great honour that I accept this position. I have seen the growth and successes of this team over the years – from a distance when I was in college, and intimately over the last seven years. I want to continue the tradition of excellence for which we've become known. I thank Coach Hurt for his guidance and patience while I found my coaching voice and Kathy Meehan, whose leadership has served as a model for me. I am excited to continue working with our returning student-athletes who have committed to making our team better. Joined by the incoming class, we'll strive to be impactful not just with the Big East, but nationally."  

Hurt said he pleased him that Pompey was selected to replace him.

"She is exceptionally qualified to lead the program to new heights. It's been my fortune to work with Aliann these past seven years and her record of accomplishments have been outstanding,” he said.

“She is a person of character and always has her athletes' best interest at heart. I look forward to following all the great things she will accomplish in pushing the program forward in the years ahead."

In addition to her responsibilities as a coach, Pompey currently serves as the president of the Panam Sports Athlete Commission. She was also a member of the Athletes' Commission and she is also a member of the organization's executive board and a liaison to the International Olympic Committee.

Pompey won the NCAA National 400m title in 2000 while representing Manhattan College.