Tyrone Watkins - Assistant Coach (Distance) - Track and Field Coaches

Tyrone Watkins

Title:
Assistant Coach (Distance)
Email:
watkinsrt@umkc.edu
Phone:
816-235-5468

Tyrone Watkins is in his third season as an assistant coach for the UMKC track and field program. Watkins is in charge of coaching the short and long distance sprinters, hurdlers and the relay teams for the Kangaroos. Since his arrival at UMKC, Watkins has produced one Mid-Con champion and 10 Mid-Con runner-ups, along with seven third place finishers. Amazingly, each of Watkins sprinters have accomplished personal bests under his tutelage. Prior to joining the Kangaroo staff, Watkins spent four years as a high school coach at Wyandotte High School, Turner High School and Wichita West High School. During this time, Watkins coached student-athletes to three state runner-up finishes. Before getting into the coaching profession, Watkins was a standout sprinter at Kansas State University. In his first season in Manhattan, Watkins made an immediate impact, as he was a member of the Big Eight Conference champion 1,600-meter relay team. He earned a spot at the NCAA National Indoor Championships as a member of that same relay and became an all-American in 1989 after placing fourth in the event. In 1991, Watkins was a member of the sprint medley relay that took first at the prestigious Texas Relays. He was also a key part of the 400-meter relay that broke the KSU school record at the Drake Relays. The school record of 39.68 still stands to this day. As a prep at Wichita West High School, Watlkins was a two-time high school all-American, as he posted some of the fastest times in the history of the state of Kansas in the 100-meters, 200-meters, 400-meters and 1,600-meter relay. He was an eight-time high school, city and regional champion in the 100-meter dash, 200-meters, 400-meters and the 1,600-meter relay. In 1986 and 1987, Watkins went undefeated in these events. During that 1997 season, Watkins was a part of the 1,600-meter relay that demolished the school, meet and state record. The time of 3:16.90 still stands in Kansas today. Watkins graduated from Kansas State in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice. He is currently a USATF Certified Level I Coach.