Pete Charles

Pete Charles signs on as the new Assistant Coach for Clemson Track & Field, announced by Track & Field Director Mark Elliot. Charles joins the Tigers’ staff from the University of Maryland, where he spent this past season. Prior to Maryland, Charles coached for five years at Fairleigh Dickinson University. 

“I have know Coach Pete Charles for quite sometime, as an athlete and now has a Coach. Pete will be a great addition to our program he has Coach at the highest level of our sports. We are happy to have him has a coach more specifically as a jumps Coach here at Clemson University,” Director of Track & Field Mark Elliot said. 

In 2019-20, Charles and the Knights brought home the women’s indoor track and field’s first NEC Championship since 1999. He was named as a member of the 2020 NEC Women’s Track and Field Coaching Staff of the Year. Charles helped primarily with the sprinters and jumpers, including NEC Most Outstanding Performer Madeline Price, who brought home three gold medals. He also worked with freshman Shantelle Riley, who brought home two NEC Rookie of the Week honors. On the men’s side, Sandley Elysee brought home the gold medal in the 500 meter event and Taeco O’Garro broke the program record in the triple jump. 

Prior to FDU, Charles was an assistant track and field coach at Monroe College from 2015-2017. While at Monroe, Charles oversaw all recruiting efforts, created extensive weight program and training programs for sprinters, jumpers, and hurdlers, and worked with academic support for the athletes. He was named NJCAA Indoor and Outdoor DI Atlantic Women’s Coach of the Year after coaching an NJCAA National Champion in the 100 and 200 meter events. In 2016, he coached 16 Outdoor All-Americans and finished a school-best 3rd at the NJCAA Championships. Charles mentored another 10 Indoor All-Americans in the 2016 season. 

Charles also was an assistant coach in 2016 for the British Virgin Island Olympic Association and helped develop the national team. He also had the assignment of finding the top athletes and preparing programs for the athletes to be at their best. 

At the 2016 World Championships, Charles was the head coach of the Antigua team. He also led the team in the 2015 Carifta Games and the 2014 O.E.C.S. Games.

From 2013-2015, Charles was the head track and field coach at Lehman College from 2013-2015. He coached multiple NCAA Champions while at Lehman and were the CUNYAC Outdoor Conference Champions in 2013. Prior to that, Charles was an assistant at Lehman for a season and coached a total of 28 Indoor and Outdoor Conference Champions. 

Charles ran track and field at Lehman and graduated with a B.A. in economics and a minor in political science.