- November 5, 2024
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Flagler Palm Coast graduate and Olympic Sam Vazquez has been named as Roosevelt University’s head cross country and track-and-field coach, Assistant Vice President for Health and Human Wellness/Athletic Director Mike Cassidy announced Monday.
Vazquez’s appointment as Roosevelt head coach is effective immediately.
The Lakers, based in Chicago, competes in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and is a member of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletics Conference.
Vazquez, who spent the past two seasons as an assistant cross country and track-and-field coach for the Illinois Institute of Technology, represented Puerto Rico at the 2012 London Olympics as a competitor in the 1,500-meter event. Vazquez, 28, set Puerto Rico’s national record in the 1,500 meters, has participated in the Central American and Caribbean Championship and the 2011 Pan American Games, among other international competitions.
“I am excited to welcome Sam to the Lakers family and to watch him continue the process of building our cross country and track-and-field programs,” Cassidy said. “His experience commands attention, and his passion for passing along those life lessons learned during his running career will make him an ideal coach and mentor for our student-athletes. The future is very bright for our program under Sam’s leadership”
Vazquez said the opportunity has come at a good time.
“I am extremely happy and looking forward to joining the Roosevelt family,” he said. “Roosevelt has taken me in with open arms, and I will work my hardest to ensure that we all work toward a common goal."
Vazquez began his collegiate career as an All-American runner for NCAA Division I Arkansas, helping the Razorbacks win the 2004 NCAA National Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Championship before becoming a decorated runner at NAIA national contender Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Vazquez was a seven-time NAIA All-American, winning the 2011 NAIA 1,000-meter indoor national championship, and was named the Sun Conference Runner of the Year in 2009.
In high school at FPC, Vazquez won the 2003 adidas Outdoor National High School Mile Championship.
Vazquez cut his coaching teeth at fellow Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference member IIT, where he guided six Scarlet Hawk athletes to the NAIA National Championships in his first season. He also worked as an assistant video coordinator for the National Collegiate Scouting Association in Chicago.
