Track and Field welcomes Brigham and Landon to coaching staff
01/08/2019 | 8:47:00 | Track and Field
CARBONDALE, Ill. – Southern Illinois University Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Rosalind Joseph rounded out her inaugural coaching staff over winter break, finalizing the hiring of assistant coach Damien Brigham as well as securing the return of five-time All-American Kyle Landon as a volunteer assistant coach.
Brigham comes to SIU from Alabama A&M where he served as associate head coach for the 2017-18 season. The Dallas, Texas native will coach Southern's multi-event athletes as well as its pole vaulters.
"I'm excited to finally complete my staff with Coach Brigham on board," Joseph said. "He brings a wealth of knowledge in all events, which will be essential to providing our student-athletes with the most efficient training program. Coach Brigham's experience and eagerness to get on the recruiting trail is what also sold me on him as my final hire. He's knowledgeable about the events, passionate about the sport and excited to contribute to the future of the Salukis."
Brigham brings a wealth of coaching experience at all levels to Carbondale. Prior to his time at Alabama A&M, Brigham spent a season as an assistant at Coastal Carolina University, where he helped create training schedules for each athlete, developed strategies to help student-athletes improve and coordinated fundraising activities, amongst other duties.
"One thing that drew me to SIU is that it is in a bigger conference," Brigham said. "Another thing that drew me to this opportunity was the tradition of the program. When I was at Jackson State, we competed at several SIU indoor meets and I know all about how much success this program has had in the past. Also, Coach Joseph and I share a mentor in the sport, so to have that commonality was key."
Prior to Coastal Carolina, Brigham spent three seasons at McNeese State in Lake Charles, La., where he coached the Cowboys' sprints, relays, hurdles, multi-events and horizontal jumps.
An accomplished all-around athlete at Jackson State University, Brigham graduated in 2005 with a bachelor's degree in recreation. After college, Brigham competed professionally, which included participating in both the 2003 World Championship trials as well as the 2004 U.S. Olympic trials.
A familiar name to the Saluki faithful, Kyle Landon returns to Carbondale as a volunteer assistant coach. The Chester, Ill. native returned to the area to be close to family and continues to train in the hopes of competing in the high jump at the 2020 Olympics. He will help coach Southern's vertical and horizontal jumpers.
"I was ecstatic to hear that Kyle was moving back to the area and was open to helping with our program," Joseph said. "He brings a wealth of competitive experience and knowledge that will resonate with our current Salukis. He has an impressive resume of wins, experience at every competitive level, and he is still competing, so he can relate on that level as well. People around this town love Kyle and his ability to connect with anyone. I'm excited to have him alongside me. After his competitive years, I think he can have a bright future as a coach in this sport."
Saluki track and field's only three-time Academic All-American, Landon was a silver medalist at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials and remains the only jumper in Missouri Valley Conference history to win eight high jump titles. In total, he won nine MVC individual titles and is one of only six athletes in Valley history to earn a share of the Most Valuable Athlete award at the conference's indoor and outdoor championships in the same season.
"When word got out to Coach Joseph that I was moving back to the area she had me give her a call and without ever meeting me she extended her utmost respect and expressed her desire to have me continue to be a part of Saluki track and field in any way that I could," Landon said. "Not only has she allowed me to continue my training for the 2020 Olympics at SIU, but she has also afforded me the opportunity to work first-hand with the high jumpers to gain valuable coaching experience should I pursue a career in coaching down the road. I'm excited to see what success will follow Coach Joseph and the Salukis track and field program moving forward."
A 2017 graduate of Southern Illinois University, Landon graduated cum laude with a bachelor's degree in accounting.
Brigham comes to SIU from Alabama A&M where he served as associate head coach for the 2017-18 season. The Dallas, Texas native will coach Southern's multi-event athletes as well as its pole vaulters.
"I'm excited to finally complete my staff with Coach Brigham on board," Joseph said. "He brings a wealth of knowledge in all events, which will be essential to providing our student-athletes with the most efficient training program. Coach Brigham's experience and eagerness to get on the recruiting trail is what also sold me on him as my final hire. He's knowledgeable about the events, passionate about the sport and excited to contribute to the future of the Salukis."
Brigham brings a wealth of coaching experience at all levels to Carbondale. Prior to his time at Alabama A&M, Brigham spent a season as an assistant at Coastal Carolina University, where he helped create training schedules for each athlete, developed strategies to help student-athletes improve and coordinated fundraising activities, amongst other duties.
"One thing that drew me to SIU is that it is in a bigger conference," Brigham said. "Another thing that drew me to this opportunity was the tradition of the program. When I was at Jackson State, we competed at several SIU indoor meets and I know all about how much success this program has had in the past. Also, Coach Joseph and I share a mentor in the sport, so to have that commonality was key."
Prior to Coastal Carolina, Brigham spent three seasons at McNeese State in Lake Charles, La., where he coached the Cowboys' sprints, relays, hurdles, multi-events and horizontal jumps.
An accomplished all-around athlete at Jackson State University, Brigham graduated in 2005 with a bachelor's degree in recreation. After college, Brigham competed professionally, which included participating in both the 2003 World Championship trials as well as the 2004 U.S. Olympic trials.
A familiar name to the Saluki faithful, Kyle Landon returns to Carbondale as a volunteer assistant coach. The Chester, Ill. native returned to the area to be close to family and continues to train in the hopes of competing in the high jump at the 2020 Olympics. He will help coach Southern's vertical and horizontal jumpers.
"I was ecstatic to hear that Kyle was moving back to the area and was open to helping with our program," Joseph said. "He brings a wealth of competitive experience and knowledge that will resonate with our current Salukis. He has an impressive resume of wins, experience at every competitive level, and he is still competing, so he can relate on that level as well. People around this town love Kyle and his ability to connect with anyone. I'm excited to have him alongside me. After his competitive years, I think he can have a bright future as a coach in this sport."
Saluki track and field's only three-time Academic All-American, Landon was a silver medalist at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials and remains the only jumper in Missouri Valley Conference history to win eight high jump titles. In total, he won nine MVC individual titles and is one of only six athletes in Valley history to earn a share of the Most Valuable Athlete award at the conference's indoor and outdoor championships in the same season.
"When word got out to Coach Joseph that I was moving back to the area she had me give her a call and without ever meeting me she extended her utmost respect and expressed her desire to have me continue to be a part of Saluki track and field in any way that I could," Landon said. "Not only has she allowed me to continue my training for the 2020 Olympics at SIU, but she has also afforded me the opportunity to work first-hand with the high jumpers to gain valuable coaching experience should I pursue a career in coaching down the road. I'm excited to see what success will follow Coach Joseph and the Salukis track and field program moving forward."
A 2017 graduate of Southern Illinois University, Landon graduated cum laude with a bachelor's degree in accounting.
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