Army West Point Athletics
Roberts Added To Track and Field Coaching Staff
September 21, 2021 | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field
WEST POINT, N.Y. - Army West Point Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Mike Smith has added Michael Roberts as an assistant coach. Roberts will work with the Black Knights sprints, hurdles, horizontal jumps, and relays.   Â
"Michael is an experienced young coach who has had success at both the NCAA Division I and Division II levels," said Smith. "He elevated the profile of the program at Northwood and guided several of his top athletes to elite performances at the NCAA Championships. He possesses the qualities that will serve him well here at Army. He is a confident leader, he is looking for a challenge, and he has a proven background of success as a recruiter and as a coach. He comes highly recommended by his athletic director, for both the success he brought to Northwood, but also because of his professionalism and maturity. He will be a strong leader for our cadet-athletes and we are lucky to have him join our staff."Â Â
Roberts joins the Black Knights from Northwood University (MI), where he served seven seasons as the head coach for the men's and women's cross country/track & field programs. During his tenure with Northwood University, the Timberwolves set 21 school records, had 20 NCAA First Team All-American honors for both programs, and served as a member of the USTFCCCA DII Track & Field Executive Committee.  Â
During the 2020-21 season, Roberts guided Mason Phillips and Xzavia Price to the 2021 NCAA Division II Indoor National Championships where Phillips finished second in both the 60m and 200m and with Price placing fifth in the 60m finals to earn the Timberwolves a total of 20 points en route to an 11th place team finish at the NCAA Indoor National Championships. In 2019, the men's team finished 13th at the NCAA Indoor National Championships and Roberts was named the Northwood University Coach of the Year. Roberts coached the 2020 Indoor National Athlete of the Year Runner-Up (Mason Phillips). Roberts also coached Rami Gharsalli who was named the 2017 NCAA Men's Indoor National Scholar-Athlete of the Year and earned the Google Cloud Academic All-American Honors twice (2018 & 2019). Â
Prior to Northwood University, Roberts spent two years as the assistant sprint coach for Indiana State University where he gained insight and experience from the legendary coach John McNichols and current Director of Track & Field Angela Martin.  Â
While with the Sycamores, Roberts coached Katie Wise to qualify for the USA Championships and the NACAC Championships in the 100m (11.18). He also guided Wise to an NCAA Indoor All-American fifth-place finish in the 60m with a time of 7.25. In the 2013-14 season, Roberts mentored nine Sycamores to the NCAA Outdoor National Championships in the 100m (11.18), 200m (23.06), 110h (13.43-men), 400h (50.80-men), and the women's 4 x 100m relay (44.64). During his stint with the Sycamores, Roberts coached 21 student-athletes to the NCAA East Preliminary Round and coached 14 athletes to all-conference indoor and outdoor titles in the sprints, hurdles, and relays at the MVC Championships.  Â
Roberts was also a respected student-athlete, competing at Indiana State University. Roberts was a two-time East Preliminary Round qualifier and a multiple-time All-MVC runner-up in the hurdles. He also served as an ISU team captain. Roberts graduated from Indiana State with a bachelor's degree in exercise science. He also earned his master of science degree in physical education with a specialization in coaching. Â
Roberts has earned the USTCFFFA Track & Field Technical Certification and is a United States Track and Field (USATF) Level 1 certified instructor.  Â
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