Dorian Scott, Jamaica’s first Olympic throws finalist, has joined a growing band of coaches from the island to hold head coaching posts on the US college circuit. Scott was recently named the head coach of the women’s track & field/cross country programs at UNLV, the University of Nevada Las Vegas.

Now 39, the 2-time Olympian joins a list including Nadia Alexander-Pompey, Mark Elliot, Alton McKenzie, Victor ‘Poppy’ Thomas, Soyini Thompson and Inez Turner who now hold head coaching jobs in US colleges.

Scott goes to Nevada after a nine-year stay as Field Events and Throws Coach. During that time, Florida State amassed 26 All-American honours and 17 Atlantic Coast Conference titles with Jamaicans Shanice Love, Gleneve Grange and 2016 Olympic discus qualifier Kellion Knibb.

“It is a true honour to become the head coach of track and field/cross country at UNLV. I’m excited to elevate the program and to bring some special student-athletes to this amazing city”, Scott exclaimed when he got the job.

Scott’s throwers rewrote the FSU record books.  The women’s group established records in every indoor and outdoor event at FSU and holds 33 of the 60 positions on the Top 10 list for indoor and outdoor throws on the women’s side, and under his direction, the men hold 24 of the 60 top marks in FSU track and field history.

Scott spent the 2012 season at San Diego State University as an assistant and while there, he tutored Whitney Ashley to the 2012 NCAA Outdoor discus title. It was San Diego State’s first NCAA victory since 1985.

A two-time world finalist for Jamaica, he finished fifth at the 2008 Indoor World Championships, won silver medals at the 2006 and 2010 Commonwealth Games and the 2007 Pan American Games. In addition, he broke new ground for his country by reaching the 2012 Olympic shot final. It was the first time a Jamaican had contested a throwing event final at the Olympics.

Thomas is starting his 20th season as the head coach at Lincoln Missouri, where his charges have won 14 NCAA Division II national titles. One of Thomas’ best products is Lerone Clarke, the 2010 Commonwealth and 2011 Pan-American Games 100 metres champion.

Turner is at Fayetteville State University, Nadia Alexander-Pompey, Thompson, McKenzie and former national 5,000 and 10,000 metres record holder Elliot at Mississippi Valley State, Charleston Southern, Georgetown University, Johnson C Smith and Clemson Universities respectively.

Elliot, who coaches World and Olympic 800 metres finalist Natoya Goule, and McKenzie have the title of Director of Track and Field at Clemson and Georgetown respectively. On Elliot’s staff at Clemson is Lennox Graham, coach of World Championships gold and bronze 100-metre hurdles medal winner Danielle Williams. Graham was head coach at Johnson C Smith before moving to Clemson.