Jerod Wims Named Interim Women's Track & Field, Cross Country Head Coach

MACON, Ga. – Former world champion sprinter and NCAA All-American Jerod Wims has been named the interim head coach of the Mercer women's track & field and cross country programs, Director of Athletics Jim Cole announced Monday afternoon.

"We were pleased with Jerod's leadership last fall and are confident he'll guide our women's track & field program to success in the upcoming spring season," Cole said. "He's a highly accomplished individual in the realm of track & field who we are glad to have as a Bear."

Wims will assume the interim role immediately in place of Ryan Bailey, who will remain at Mercer as the men's cross country head coach. Graduate Assistant Pauric McLaughlin will continue to assist Wims in the guidance of the women's track & field and cross country programs.

"I'm excited about the opportunity to lead a Mercer program that is right in my backyard here in Macon, where I've done most of my training with sprinters in Middle Georgia," Wims said. "I'd like to thank Jim Cole and Sybil Blalock for their confidence in me – this is a big deal."

Wims, 30, joined the Mercer family in August of 2016 as a volunteer assistant track & field coach and helped train the team's sprinters throughout the fall semester.

A former head coach at the Windsor Academy in Macon from 2012-14, Wims is additionally the owner of Flash Forward Personal Training Group, through which he has coached 16 high school student-athletes who have received scholarships from NCAA Division I track & field programs. He is currently a Fire Sergeant for the city of Perry's (Ga.) Fire Department and Emergency Services, where he has worked since 2010.

Wims earned his undergraduate degree from Auburn University in 2009, where he completed a successful collegiate sprinting career that started at Florida International University. He competed at the NCAA Championships multiple times over his career, including the 2015 4x100 meter relay where he set a FIU program record of 39.65 seconds. Wims is also part of the fourth-fastest 4x100 meter relay team in Auburn history (39.31, 2009).

He was a champion at the 2015 World Police and Fire Games (WPFG) in Fairfax, Virginia, where he won titles in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash and 4x100-meter relay as well.

FOLLOW THE BEARS
For complete coverage of Mercer Track & Field and Cross Country, please visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.

Mercer University Athletics

Jerod Wims Named Interim Women's Track & Field, Cross Country Head Coach

Related Videos

Sponsors

Footer