Murray State University Athletics
Chavis hired as track and field coach
1/20/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track and Field
The Murray State athletic department announced the hiring of Dereck Chavis (pron.: DEH-rick CHAY-viss) as the new head coach of the men's and women's track and field and cross country programs. Chavis, who replaces interim head coach Bob Doty, comes to Murray State from Hope College in Holland, Mich.
"This is a great opportunity to come to Murray," Chavis said. "Murray has a lot of potential. I am very happy and proud to be a part of the rebuilding process here. Murray State also has great academics."
Chavis was a former four-year varsity letterman at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Ind. He was a two-time team captain and achieved All-Missouri Valley Conference honors. He was instrumental in Indiana State winning MVC championships in 1990 and 1993.
After completing his eligibility, Chavis returned to Indiana State to become a graduate assistant coach, where he was in charge of recruiting, coaching, meet administration and budget management. Chavis graduated from Indiana State in 1994 with a master's of science degree in recreation and sport management.
In June 1999, Chavis was hired as the head men's and women's track and field coach at Hope College. During his tenure, Hope was recognized as one of the dominant programs in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association, gaining national attention.
The Hope women's track and field team has been recognized for six consecutive years by the MIAA for having one of the top grade-point averages of all the athletic teams in its conference. In 2001, it was recognized as the top team in that regard. The men have also been recognized three times by the United States Track and Field Coaches Association as one of the top academic track and field teams in Division III.
While at Hope, Chavis produced seven All-Americans, 23 NCAA national qualifiers, 21 conference champions, 31 all-conference performers and 32 broken school records.
"My immediate goal here is that we want to establish an identity, or protocol," Chavis said. "We need to begin a new way of doing things. Our mid-term goals are to definitely have an opportunity to compete in the OVC. Our long-term goals are to gain national recognition as a team and as individuals."
