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FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - Kenny McDaniel has been named an assistant track and field coach at Northern Arizona University, Director of Track and Field Eric Heins announced.

He joins the Northern Arizona program after five seasons as an assistant at Arizona State. He will work with the men's and women's sprinters and hurdlers, bringing his energetic and passionate approach to helping the student-athletes in the Lumberjack program.

"First, I would like to thank Coach Heins for this opening to join his staff," said McDaniel. "I'm very excited about this opportunity to coach the men and women sprinters and hurdlers at Northern Arizona University. I'm inheriting a very talented group of athletes on both sides of the program. I'm anxious to get our fall training started so we can work towards building something special here in Flagstaff on the sprint side of the program."

In his five years with the Sun Devil program, McDaniel's women's sprint, hurdle, and relay student-athletes improved under his direction while challenging for conference and national titles. Overall, he coached 12 women to a combined 43 All-America honors during his time at Arizona State, including two-time NCAA Champion Jacquelyn Johnson. She won the NCAA title in the pentathlon and heptathlon in 2008 before competing in the Olympics in Beijing. His work with Johnson helped the seven-time NCAA champion lower her 100m hurdle time from 13.31 to 13.19, gaining her valuable points in the heptathlon and a ticket to Beijing.

In 2012, he guided ShaKeia Pinnick to a lifetime best in the 100-meter hurdles, improving from 13.87 to 13.34, while she earned All-American honors in the heptathlon. Senior Kayla Sanchez lowered her 400m personal best from 54.64 to 53.86 and both Sun Devil replays qualified for the NCAA Championships: 4x100m (44.47) and 4x400m (3:34.62). McDaniel also coached Jasmine Chaney to a personal best of 55.22 in the 400iH and berth in the 2012 Olympic Trials.

"Coach McDaniel brings a lot of enthusiasm and experience," said Heins. "Having another coach will do wonders for our sprinters and hurdlers. It will be great for them to have a coach that does not have to split time between multiple event groups. I am truly grateful to the administration for bringing back this fourth position."

McDaniel joins a NAU staff including full-time assistants Ed Jacoby (jumps) and Oscar Duncan (throws). They led the NAU men to a sweep of the Big Sky indoor and outdoor championships titles in 2012, during which both conference records for team points were shattered.

Prior to his time in Tempe, McDaniel spent three seasons (2005-07) coaching the men's and women's sprints, hurdles and relays at Cal State-Fullerton and guided six individuals (three men and three women) and one women's relay to Big West titles. His athletes also set 14 total school records, including seven women's individual events, all four women's relays and three individual men's events. During his tenure, he guided 25 student-athletes to the NCAA West Region meet, including two relays and seven individuals in 2007. That same year, only 13 men, including two from CSUF, qualified for the 100m dash at the NCAA West Region meet. Marques Barosso and Jon Pratter made the Titans one of just three schools (ASU and Washington State were the others) to have multiple entries into the event.

McDaniel's first coaching job came in 2000 as he was hired to coach the men's and women's sprints, hurdles and relays at San Francisco State. While with the Gators (2000-04), his student-athletes accounted for three school records while a pair of sprinters qualified in the 100m and 200m dash at the NCAA Division II Championships. His student-athletes also garnered 10 total All-CCAA honors. Before taking his position at SFSU, McDaniel served as a student assistant coach (2000) at his alma mater, Pittsburgh State University in Pittsburgh, Kan. A 1999 graduate with a degree in General Studies with an emphasis in Kinesiology and Nutrition, McDaniel ran for the Gorillas for two years. In 1997, he earned All-MIAA accolades in the indoor 55m hurdles as well as both the 110m high hurdles and the 400m hurdles during the outdoor season. McDaniel opened his collegiate career in 1995 at Blinn College in Brenham, Texas, where he competed for one year. That year, the Buccaneers captured the 1995 NJCAA title before the school discontinued the program. McDaniel transferred to Kansas City Community College in Kansas City, Kan., for his sophomore season and earned All-America honors after placing fifth in the 55m hurdles.

A native of Longview, Texas, and graduate of Longview HS, McDaniel attained his USATF Level II Sprints and Hurdles certification in the summer of 2006.