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Ray Stanfield, who has spent more than 20 years coaching track and field in the college and high school ranks, is in his third year at the helm of UAB's track and field and cross country programs. The Blazers recorded their highest-ever finish at the Conference USA Championships, as they placed in a tie for fourth overall. What made the feat even more impressive was the fact that UAB had 11 newcomers and only two seniors on the team. Senior Amanda Kara was named to the all-conference team after placing ninth overall at the championships. UAB also finished in a tie for 11th at the NCAA South Region Championships. Kara was the Blazers' highest finisher in the meet, placing 31st. In his first season at the helm, his team broke five school records and added numerous performers to UAB's top-five all-time list. One athlete was also named Conference USA athlete of the week. In cross country, Stanfield's team garnered national recognition as an Academic All-American team and received the Conference USA Academic Award for having the highest GPA. All of this before he brought in his first recruiting class. Stanfield has coached Olympians, All-Americans and NCAA Champions and has also earned Coach of the Year honors in Texas and Louisiana. Stanfield has been nationally recognized as an outstanding recruiter while coaching at Rice, McNeese, Sam Houston and Samford. He has signed numerous state champions and high school All-Americans. Stanfield began his coaching career in 1976 at the high school level. He spent seven years as a high school coach in Texas. While at Canton (Texas) High School, he was named the state's 2000 U.S. Running Cross Country Coach of the Year after leading his team to the Texas State Championship. Previous high school coaching experience for Stanfield includes head coach at Crockett High School (1998-2000), head coach at Corrigan-Camden High School (1995-96) and head coach at Huntsville High School (1988-94). Stanfield has led his teams to numerous high school state championships. In 1982, Stanfield became the assistant coach at Rice University, coaching the 400-meters and down and the 4x100 and 4x400 meter relay teams. Under his tutelage, two Owl relay teams finished as runners-up at the NCAA Championships in 1985 and 1986. His 400 meter relay team placed second in 1985, while his indoor mile relay team placed third in 1986. While at Rice, he also coached Canadian Olympian Courtney Brown, as well as Jamaican Olympian and two-time 1000 meter NCAA Champion Gawain Guy. Also, two of his sprinters were Olympic Trials finalists, Elliston Stinson and Steven Hall (1984). Stanfield has also coached collegiately at McNeese State (head coach, 1993-94), Sam Houston State (assistant coach, 1987-88) and Samford University (assistant coach, 2001-02). While at McNeese State, his women's team won the Louisiana Collegiate Championship in 1993. Stanfield received his degree in secondary education in 1978 from Mid-America Bible College in Oklahoma City. He later earned a Masters degree in Kinesiology at Sam Houston State in 1988. Stanfield began his college career as a student at Hardin-Simmons on a basketball scholarship. He was all-conference three times in basketball and an All-American as a senior. Stanfield still competes in road races and Master's events in track. He was the Master's Southeast Region 5,000 Champion in 2001. He has also completed 13 marathons. Stanfield is married to the former Patricia Conway of Houston. They have two children (twins): Tori and Tyler. Tori, a junior at Carson-Newman and Tyler, a junior at Houston. Tyler spent his first two seasons at Alabama, where he was an All-SEC performer in track in 2003 and the 2002 Freshman of the Year for the South Region in Cross Country. |
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