HACKENSACK, N.J. - FDU Director of Athletics
Bradford Hurlbut announced the hiring of
Wesley Stephens as the next head coach of the Knights men's and women's cross country and track and field program Thursday following a national search.
Inheriting a program that has experienced great success in the Northeast Conference, regionally and nationally, Stephens arrives on the banks of the Hackensack from the nation's capital where he served as Howard University's (NCAA Division I - MEAC) Head Cross Country/Assistant Track and Field Coach. In his first season with the Bison, Stephens was named the MEAC's Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year with his team winning the conference title this past fall.
"It is with great excitement that I announce Wesley Stephens as the next head coach of our storied cross country and track and field program," said Hurlbut. "Wesley is a rising star in the track and field community, a dynamic leader with proven success on and off the field of competition and is deeply committed to providing student-athletes an exceptional experience academically, athletically and socially.
"As we conducted our search, Wesley emerged as the perfect fit for our athletic department's core values and our committee felt strongly he could continue building upon the program's recent success," continued Hurlbut. "I can't wait to officially welcome Wesley to the FDU Family at the beginning of February!"
"Thank you to [Director of Athletics] Hurlbut, [Deputy Director of Athletics] Cathy Liggett and [Senior Associate Athletic Director, External Affairs] Jason Young for this amazing opportunity," said Stephens. "I'm tremendously excited to join the Knights Family and honored to be chosen to lead these programs into a new era. Let's get to work! Go Knights!"
The 2014 Howard graduate was on-staff for the program's women's conference titles both indoors and outdoors in 2022. Additionally, Stephens worked with 10 All-MEAC cross country runners last fall and coached 11 All-MEAC performers combined between the indoor and outdoor campaigns last year, including three First Team All-MEAC selections. In just one year, five student-athletes set program records at Howard under his tutelage.
Prior to his return at Howard, Stephens was the Director of Cross Country and an assistant track and field coach at VCU (NCAA Division I - A-10) and transformed the training regiment for Rams' cross country. During his time in Richmond, Va., Stephens guided VCU's run to the 2021 A-10 Women's Outdoor Track and Field crown and coached the first VCU male athlete to score in a distance event at the outdoor conference championship since 2013. With the Rams, he also served as the program's recruiting coordinator, building relationships with coaches and programs around the country while also attending high caliber track meets to recruit student-athletes that fit the culture of the VCU program.
Stephens also served as the interim head coach of the Alcorn State (NCAA Division I - SWAC) cross country/track and field team in 2019. Throughout his three-year tenure, Stephens worked with jumps, sprints and multis and signed the 2018 Nevada Gatorade Men's Cross Country Runner of the Year to the program. Additionally, five program records were broken under his watch, including the women's 500m and men's 1500m, mile, 3000m and 5000m.
Studying as a graduate student at VCU from 2018-19, Stephens graduated with a Master's of Sport Leadership. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism at Howard, cum laude in 2014. During his undergraduate years at Howard, Stephens was a five-time MEAC qualifier in the decathlon, heptathlon and javelin. He holds Howard's decathlon record.
Prior to joining the collegiate ranks, Stephens, originally from Alexandria, Va., taught high school and coached two interscholastic cross country/track and field programs in Las Vegas.
