Terps Add Two Assistant Coaches in Track & Field
6/28/2007 8:00:00 AM | Track & Field
June 28, 2007
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland track and field program has added two new coaches for the upcoming season, head coach Andrew Valmon announced this week.
AuDrey Dempsey Branch will join the Terrapins after a successful stint as an assistant coach at Georgia Tech, while Terry Weir will be the new coach in charge of Maryland's fortunes in distance events and cross country, moving to College Park from nearby American University.
"I'm excited about the new start that we will have with these two new coaches on staff," said Valmon. "I know that with all of the coaches working together, we will be able to move forward as one team to reach our goals."
Branch will be entering the program as an associate head coach and will be a primary contact for the Terrapins' women's program. She will also be involved with supporting events with the men's program and comes to Maryland with particular expertise in sprints, jumps and hurdles.
An accomplished athlete in her own right, Branch was a three-time Atlantic Coast Conference champion in the 100-meter hurdles and the 4x400-meter relay, setting ACC records in both those events in 1992. She participated in the 1992 NCAA indoor and outdoor nationals, as well as the 1992 U.S. Olympic Trials in the 400 hurdles.
As a coach, Branch has coached eight ACC champions, two ACC record-holders and 18 All-Americans. Georgia Tech's Ashlee Kidd was a two-time ACC Indoor MVP, earning three All-America certificates and four ACC titles.
Branch also coached at the University of Kentucky, having coached four of the top five al-time triple jumpers at the school, as well as a number of student-athletes among the Wildcats' top 10 in both the triple jump and the long jump.
Weir also boasts an outstanding personal career as an athlete. He was the Sun Belt Conference cross country champion in 1993, while his team captured Sun Belt Conference titles in 1991 and 1993. He was a five-time all-conference honoree in track and field. He has personal-bests of 3:46 in the 1,500 meters and 13:51 at 5,000 meters.
Weir has coached at Thomas Jefferson High School, directing 12 Virginia State AAA Champions and the state team champions. He also coached the 1998 Nike Indoor National Champs in the distance medley relay. He moved on to Oakton High School, where he coached 13 individual state champions, two USA Junior All-Americans and an indoor national champion. He also had a two-time state champion in cross country, a two-time state champ in the mile and a junior All-American.
The American University men's cross country team has earned automatic berths to the NCAA National Cross Country Championships in each of the last three seasons. The Eagles have been the Patriot League champs in five straight years on the men's side, and won back-to-back women's team titles in 2002 and 2003.
Individually, Weir has coached seven different athletes to 14 All-America honors in cross country and track.
