Dec. 10, 2013
Six days away from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame (USTFCCCA) induction ceremony for South Carolina track & field head coach Curtis Frye, GamecocksOnline.com is taking a closer look at the steps of Frye’s career.
Frye gets his first track & field head-coaching job at Douglas Byrd High School.
After a five-year stint at ECU, Curtis Frye moved on to the next stop of his career. The coach and his family moved from Greenville, N.C., to Fayetteville, N.C., to work at Douglas Byrd High School.
At Douglas Byrd, Frye oversaw his first track team, taking the helm of the Eagles’ women’s track program. Frye began to develop his individual style as a coach during his time there, and particularly learned a lot about coaching females.
The coach got a taste of making dreams come true as he worked with mentor Bill Carson at East Carolina to help one of his athletes secure a spot on the Pirates’ track and field roster. Thanks to Frye, Linda Gillis continued her athletic career, and she became the first member of her family to attend college. It would not be the last time that Frye would work tirelessly to give someone an opportunity.
Frye also assisted long-time Eagle head football coach Bob Peroli and was the junior varsity basketball coach.
During his time in Fayetteville, Douglas Byrd was a formidable foe on the football field. Frye coached three athletes that would work their way to the NFL. The Minnesota Vikings drafted South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame member Brad Edwards after a collegiate career as a Gamecock defensive back. Edwards snagged two interceptions for the Washington Redskins in their Super Bowl XXVI victory over the Buffalo Bills.
The Chicago Bears selected cornerback Donnell Woodford with the 11th overall pick in the 1989 NFL Draft after Woodford earned consensus All-America honors at Clemson. Ricky Shaw rounded out the trio, going on to play defensive end on Oklahoma State before moving to linebacker during time with the New York Giants and the Philadelphia Eagles.
Not afraid of hard work and trying new things, Frye threw himself into any and every opportunity he could to advance and move to the next level. After success on the football field with the Eagles, Frye saw a future on the gridiron, but soon the North Carolina State Wolfpack came calling.
Frye is one of six coaches who will be inducted into the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame (USTFCCCA) on Mon., Dec. 16, in Orlando, Fla. Started in 1995, the USTFCCCA Coaches Hall of Fame exists to recognize coaches who have brought great distinction to themselves, to their institutions and to the sports of cross country & track & field. Each of the honorees exemplifies the qualities of dedication to the sport, leadership and passion for their profession that serve as an inspiration to coaches everywhere in the sport.
Frye joins Weemie “Weems” Baskin as one of two Gamecocks included in the USTFCCCA Hall of Fame. Baskin was the track & field head coach at the University of South Carolina from 1948-69 and the University’s outdoor track is named in his honor.
For more information on the USTFCCCA’s Hall of Fame and the Class of 2013, click here.
