May 27, 2005

Columbia, S.C. – USC track and field Head Coach Curtis Frye announced Friday that assistant coach Delethea Quarles has been promoted to assistant head coach. Quarles, who has been a collegiate coach for 16 years, is in her eighth year at USC, coaching jumps and multi-event performers, while also overseeing eligibility and serving as the academic liason.

Recently, Quarles coached junior All-American Kemesha Whitmire to the school’s first SEC jumps title in the triple jump at the SEC Championships. Whitmire’s jump of 43’7 was a personal best, ranking her third in the region. Quarles also coached senior All-American Chelsea Hammond to her fourth consecutive Penn Relays long jump title in Philadelphia last month.

“Coach Dee was the first coach I hired at South Carolina and we’ve had outstanding teams under her leadership and assistance,” Frye said. “She’s been in the role as the assistant head coach for the past six years, as a person directly responsible for academics, equipment orders, disciplinary actions and most importantly, she’s been our spiritual leader. She’s coached more than 25 All-Americans and had many national runner-ups in the long jump. I feel honored that we can obtain this title for Coach Dee. She will be one of America’s top head coaches when the right opportunity becomes available.”

Another of Quarles’ most recent accolades includes her appointment as an assistant coach for the Junior Pan Am Games that will take place in Windsor, Canada in July. Quarles’ responsibilities will include coaching the jumps and multis. This is her second US appointment. The first came in 2002 when she served as the USA Heptathlon coach for the USA vs. Dutch National Championship in the Netherlands.

“I am honored to accept this promotion and I am grateful to my immediate supervisor, leader and mentor, Coach Frye for his confidence in my ability to do this job,” Quarles said. “My eight years here at South Carolina have contributed to many great things in my career. I appreciate all the support that I’ve received from my colleagues, track and field family and most importantly, the USC administration. Without the administration, our team’s success would not be possible.”

The Clifton-Forge, Va. native was a four-year letterwinner in track and field at Liberty University, where she received a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1989. While at Liberty she was a three-time All-American and a Penn Relays champion in 1989, before working as an assistant coach for the Flames from 1989-97.

Quarles is in New York City coaching the men’s team and the No.2-ranked women’s team at the 2005 NCAA East Regional Championship.