Johnson Adds Tamara Ards to Track & Field Coaching Staff

Aug. 10, 2010

CLEMSON, SC – Tamara Ards has been added to the Clemson track & field staff as an assistant coach. Director of Track & Field Lawrence Johnson made the announcement Tuesday. Ards comes to Tigertown after a three-year stint as an assistant with the UNLV women’s track & field program. She will be involved with recruiting and assist with the sprints and hurdles, as well as help with the day-to-day operations of the track & field office.

“Tamara comes highly recommended, and she should be a great fit for our program,” Johnson said. “She brings experience to our program as an educator of track & field. She teaches USATF Level I courses, so her background will be instrumental in the development of our program. She’s sharp and detail-oriented. It’s a pleasure to have her at Clemson, where she’s going to be a great complement to our coaching staff.”

Ards coached the jumps, multi-events and quarter milers the past three seasons at UNLV. She also directed the program’s recruiting efforts as well. Prior to her stop in Las Vegas, Ards was an assistant coach with the Eastern Michigan women’s track & field program from 2006-07. She coached sprints, jumps, hurdles and multi-events for the Eagles.

In 2005-06, she was the track & field coordinator for LSU’s nationally-renowned program. She was responsible for all facets of the program’s recruiting, fundraising, travel arrangements and meet management. During her lone season in Baton Rouge, sophomore Xavier Carter became the first athlete in NCAA history to win the 100m dash and 400m dash at the same NCAA Championships. Both the Tiger men’s and women’s teams went on to win NCAA Mideast Regional crowns.

From 2002-05, Ards served as an assistant coach at her alma mater, the University of Colorado. She worked with both the men’s and women’s programs in Boulder, coaching primarily the sprints and hurdles. In 2003, she coached AK Ikuwakor to an NCAA regional-qualifying time in the 400m hurdles. In 2004, she coached Deneeka Torrey to an NCAA time in both the 60m hurdles and 100m hurdles. In her final season with the Buffaloes, she coached the men’s 4x400m relay to a berth at the NCAA regional meet.

Ards, a USATF certified instructor for jumps, sprints, hurdles and combined events, was an All-American at Colorado in 1996 as part of the school’s 4x400m relay. In 1996, her senior season, she helped the 4×4 to indoor and outdoor Big 8 championships. Colorado also captured the women’s team championship in the Big 8 her senior season. She was a four-time Big 8 All-Academic selection, and still holds the school record in the 400m dash (54.22).

She earned her bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism in 1995. From 1995-2002, she worked various television and radio jobs as an anchor, producer and director in Colorado and Illinois.