University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt Track & Field Hires New Hurdles Coach
10/31/2022 11:07:00 AM | Track & Field
PITTSBURGH- Pitt Track and Field has added Elisha Brewer as a hurdles coach from the University of Kansas
"Coach Brewer's resume and results speak for themselves," stated coach Alonzo Webb. She brings a wealth of knowledge and championship experience to the Pitt track and field program which should greatly enhance our team…There is no substitute for being part of the coaching staff and experiencing winning an NCAA division one track and field championship as a team, which she accomplished at the University of Kansas," continued Webb.
Coach Brewer's coaching career crosses a span of 21 years at the Division I level. Brewer has coached over 25 All-Americans, 13 Big XII Champions, 5 C-USA Champions, and rewrote the record books in the sprints, hurdles, and relays events at both the University of Cincinnati and the University of Kansas. Her career started at the University of Cincinnati in 2001. In 2003, Brewer's first All-American was David Payne in the 110m hurdles who was also a 2X C-USA Conference Champion in the 110m hurdle as well as 400m hurdle champion. Payne also was the NCAA Mid-East Regional Runner-up in 2004 and ran an impressive personal best of 13.42 in the 110m hurdles. Also, while at UC, Charlyn Ray was the C-USA Conference Champion in the 200m dash in both indoor and outdoor seasons in 2003. In 2003 and 2004, Brewer coached athletes at the Mid-West Regional meet in every sprinting event on the track.
Brewer's next stop was the University of Kansas, where she coached for 18 years starting in 2004. In 2007, Ashley Brown was the Big XII Champion in the 100m hurdles as well as the Big XII Champion runner-up in the 400m hurdles. Brown still holds the KU school records in the 100m hurdles, 13.27, and in the 400m hurdles, 57.15. Brown was the first All American in school history in the 400m hurdles. In 2008, Julius Jiles was the first in school history to receive All American honors in the 110m hurdles, Jiles was the Big XII runner-up in the 60m hurdles with personal bests of 7.84 in the 60m hurdles and 13.57 in the 110m hurdles. One of the most decorated sprinters in school history, Nickeisha Anderson was a 4X All-American while at KU. The highlight of Anderson's career was being crowned the Big XII Champion in the 60m dash (7.22) and being the NCAA Runner-up in the 200m indoors running an impressive 22.67. Anderson was also named the NCAA Mid-West Regional Athlete of the Year in 2008. She still holds school records in the 60m dash, the 100m dash, and the 200m dash indoor and outdoor. As a freshman, Keith Hayes ran an impressive 13.71 and 13.46 (USA Juniors) in the 110m hurdles. Hayes went on to be a Big XII conference finalist, Midwest Regional qualifier, and NCAA qualifier in 2009.
Paris Daniels was another highly successful sprinter under Brewer's tutelage. Daniels was a 6X All-American in the 200m, 4X1, and 4X4 relays. She was a 3-peat Big XII Champion in the 200m over her career at KU. Daniels won many prestigious awards during her time at KU that including the Big XII Outdoor Female Athlete of the Year and NCAA Mid-west Region Outdoor Athlete of the Year in 2013. Daniels played a significant part in the success of the 2013 season. Winning the Big XII Championships (indoor and outdoor) in the 200m, running 1st leg of the Big XII Champions in the 4X1 relay, and anchor leg of the Big XII Champion 4X4 relay. 2013 was a year in the history books for the women's team, winning Big XIIs during the Indoor and Outdoor seasons, being the 2013 NCAA Indoor National Runner-up and 2013 NCAA Outdoor National Champions. Paris ended her career running personal bests of 7.32 in, the 60m, 11.28 in the 100m, 22.73 in the 200m, and 52.41 in the 400m. Brewer also guided the 2013 National Champion in the Heptathlon, Lindsey Volmer to a school record in the 60m hurdles, 8.29, and a PR of 13.40 in the 100m hurdles.
Michael Stigler is the most decorated 400m hurdler in KU history. Michael was a 4X All-American in the 400m hurdles. He was the first athlete in Big XII history to 4 peat as the Big XII Champion in the 400m hurdlers (freshman-senior years). Micheal was the 2014 Big XII Champion in the 600 yards, a 2X National Runner-up in the 400m hurdles in 2013 and 2014, and the 2015 National Champion in the 400m hurdles, the first to do so in school history. Michael was also named the NCAA Mid-West Region Outdoor Athlete of the Year in 2014 and 2015. Michael finished his career at KU running personal bests indoor of 7.90 in the 60m hurdles, 46.66 in the 400m, 1:08.59 in the 600 yards; outdoor 13.77 in the 110m hurdles, and 48.44 in the 400m hurdles. In 2019 Brewer coached Big XII freshman Cordell Tinch to a Big XII Championship in the 110m hurdles, running a seasonal best of 13.72. Tinch ran a personal best of 13.63 at the NCAA Midwest Regional Meet.
" She not only coached the first NCAA track and field champion in University of Kansas history but also an array of NCAA All-Americans, Big XII and C-USA champions and finalists, "stated coach Webb. "We are looking forward to having Coach Brewer's outgoing personality being felt in our program and her coaching impact being felt in the ACC conference", continued Webb
Brewer graduated from the University of Arkansas where she was a decorated sprinter/hurdler. She graduated in 1998 with a degree in Communications and a Masters degree in Counselor Education. While working on her graduate degree, Brewer worked as a graduate assistant strength coach for two years and an academic counselor for one year. Coach Brewer has two children, Asjah and Isaiah.
"I am extremely excited and grateful to work with such a great staff. I want to thank Coach Alonzo Webb and Athletic Director Heather Lyke for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to do what I love. I look forward to having a positive impact on the lives of the student-athletes on and off the track", stated Elisha Brewer.
"Coach Brewer's resume and results speak for themselves," stated coach Alonzo Webb. She brings a wealth of knowledge and championship experience to the Pitt track and field program which should greatly enhance our team…There is no substitute for being part of the coaching staff and experiencing winning an NCAA division one track and field championship as a team, which she accomplished at the University of Kansas," continued Webb.
Coach Brewer's coaching career crosses a span of 21 years at the Division I level. Brewer has coached over 25 All-Americans, 13 Big XII Champions, 5 C-USA Champions, and rewrote the record books in the sprints, hurdles, and relays events at both the University of Cincinnati and the University of Kansas. Her career started at the University of Cincinnati in 2001. In 2003, Brewer's first All-American was David Payne in the 110m hurdles who was also a 2X C-USA Conference Champion in the 110m hurdle as well as 400m hurdle champion. Payne also was the NCAA Mid-East Regional Runner-up in 2004 and ran an impressive personal best of 13.42 in the 110m hurdles. Also, while at UC, Charlyn Ray was the C-USA Conference Champion in the 200m dash in both indoor and outdoor seasons in 2003. In 2003 and 2004, Brewer coached athletes at the Mid-West Regional meet in every sprinting event on the track.
Brewer's next stop was the University of Kansas, where she coached for 18 years starting in 2004. In 2007, Ashley Brown was the Big XII Champion in the 100m hurdles as well as the Big XII Champion runner-up in the 400m hurdles. Brown still holds the KU school records in the 100m hurdles, 13.27, and in the 400m hurdles, 57.15. Brown was the first All American in school history in the 400m hurdles. In 2008, Julius Jiles was the first in school history to receive All American honors in the 110m hurdles, Jiles was the Big XII runner-up in the 60m hurdles with personal bests of 7.84 in the 60m hurdles and 13.57 in the 110m hurdles. One of the most decorated sprinters in school history, Nickeisha Anderson was a 4X All-American while at KU. The highlight of Anderson's career was being crowned the Big XII Champion in the 60m dash (7.22) and being the NCAA Runner-up in the 200m indoors running an impressive 22.67. Anderson was also named the NCAA Mid-West Regional Athlete of the Year in 2008. She still holds school records in the 60m dash, the 100m dash, and the 200m dash indoor and outdoor. As a freshman, Keith Hayes ran an impressive 13.71 and 13.46 (USA Juniors) in the 110m hurdles. Hayes went on to be a Big XII conference finalist, Midwest Regional qualifier, and NCAA qualifier in 2009.
Paris Daniels was another highly successful sprinter under Brewer's tutelage. Daniels was a 6X All-American in the 200m, 4X1, and 4X4 relays. She was a 3-peat Big XII Champion in the 200m over her career at KU. Daniels won many prestigious awards during her time at KU that including the Big XII Outdoor Female Athlete of the Year and NCAA Mid-west Region Outdoor Athlete of the Year in 2013. Daniels played a significant part in the success of the 2013 season. Winning the Big XII Championships (indoor and outdoor) in the 200m, running 1st leg of the Big XII Champions in the 4X1 relay, and anchor leg of the Big XII Champion 4X4 relay. 2013 was a year in the history books for the women's team, winning Big XIIs during the Indoor and Outdoor seasons, being the 2013 NCAA Indoor National Runner-up and 2013 NCAA Outdoor National Champions. Paris ended her career running personal bests of 7.32 in, the 60m, 11.28 in the 100m, 22.73 in the 200m, and 52.41 in the 400m. Brewer also guided the 2013 National Champion in the Heptathlon, Lindsey Volmer to a school record in the 60m hurdles, 8.29, and a PR of 13.40 in the 100m hurdles.
Michael Stigler is the most decorated 400m hurdler in KU history. Michael was a 4X All-American in the 400m hurdles. He was the first athlete in Big XII history to 4 peat as the Big XII Champion in the 400m hurdlers (freshman-senior years). Micheal was the 2014 Big XII Champion in the 600 yards, a 2X National Runner-up in the 400m hurdles in 2013 and 2014, and the 2015 National Champion in the 400m hurdles, the first to do so in school history. Michael was also named the NCAA Mid-West Region Outdoor Athlete of the Year in 2014 and 2015. Michael finished his career at KU running personal bests indoor of 7.90 in the 60m hurdles, 46.66 in the 400m, 1:08.59 in the 600 yards; outdoor 13.77 in the 110m hurdles, and 48.44 in the 400m hurdles. In 2019 Brewer coached Big XII freshman Cordell Tinch to a Big XII Championship in the 110m hurdles, running a seasonal best of 13.72. Tinch ran a personal best of 13.63 at the NCAA Midwest Regional Meet.
" She not only coached the first NCAA track and field champion in University of Kansas history but also an array of NCAA All-Americans, Big XII and C-USA champions and finalists, "stated coach Webb. "We are looking forward to having Coach Brewer's outgoing personality being felt in our program and her coaching impact being felt in the ACC conference", continued Webb
Brewer graduated from the University of Arkansas where she was a decorated sprinter/hurdler. She graduated in 1998 with a degree in Communications and a Masters degree in Counselor Education. While working on her graduate degree, Brewer worked as a graduate assistant strength coach for two years and an academic counselor for one year. Coach Brewer has two children, Asjah and Isaiah.
"I am extremely excited and grateful to work with such a great staff. I want to thank Coach Alonzo Webb and Athletic Director Heather Lyke for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to do what I love. I look forward to having a positive impact on the lives of the student-athletes on and off the track", stated Elisha Brewer.
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