ITHACA, N.Y. -- Cornell women's track and field head coach Artie Smith '96 announced the hiring of Justin Byron to the Big Red track and field coaching staff Thursday. Byron will work with the women's sprinters and hurdlers and also assist with the men's hurdlers.
 
"We're thrilled to welcome Coach Byron to the Cornell community and to the Big Red Track and Field program," Smith said. "In addition to his impressive record of national and international level of success as a coach, Coach Byron is first and foremost committed to the welfare and overall development of the students in his charge."
 
Byron comes to Cornell after building a reputation as one of the top sprint and hurdle coaches in the nation at Nansemond River High School in Suffolk, Virginia. A two-time recipient of the USTFCCCA State of Virginia High School Girls Coach of the Year in 2015 and 2016, Byron has helped coach his athletes to a staggering five high school national meet records. Additionally, his athletes hold 11 Virginia state records and they earned 14 national titles, with Nansemond River athletes breaking into the United States all-time top 10 high school lists on eight occasions. In his tenure at Nansemond River, his athletes earned 47 individual and 15 relay state titles, while 153 individual and 31 relay teams earned all-state honors. More than 20 of the athletes he has coached have gone on to the Division I ranks, while 100 percent have gone on to compete at the collegiate level. 
 
In 2010, Byron founded 5 Star Track Program, a youth track and field club designed to promote academic and athletic success. In addition to claiming three AAU National Club Championships in 2010, 2012 and 2014, the program implemented a college prep program that produced a 100 percent high school graduation rate with more than 80 percent going on to pursue higher education. Of the athletes that were part of the year-round training program, 14 won high school state championships, four claimed high school national championships and one set a high school national record.
 
Byron will assume the role previously held by Rich Bowman, who retired from his full-time appointment, but will stay on the Big Red's coaching staff as a volunteer assistant coach. Bowman has served various roles on Cornell's coaching staff since 1981, including seven years as the women's head coach from 2011-17.
 
"I am extremely excited about the opportunity to work under head coach Artie Smith and with the entire Cornell Track and field staff and athletic administration," Byron said. "Coach Bowman has left big shoes to fill, but has given us positive momentum for the sprint program moving forward. I would like to thank the Nansemond River administration, parents, student-athletes, and community for their unrelenting support over the past seven years. It was extremely difficult to leave that family, however Cornell has been extremely welcoming and I am ready to begin this new chapter with the student-athletes at Cornell University."
 
"He has a remarkable ability to relate to students and colleagues from a diverse array of backgrounds and he brings energy and enthusiasm to all of that he does in helping those around him excel in track and field," Smith said. "Coach JB -- as athletes all across the country know him -- is the kind of passionate coach and dedicated mentor who can help the current generation of Cornellians build our tradition of success to even greater heights."
 
Byron served as the executive director of the Athletic Bridge Experience, a non-profit with a two-fold focus of helping student-athletes strive for academic and athletic excellence and to increase youth health and fitness for both athletes and non-athletes in the community.
 
He obtained his master of science in recreation and sports science in 2014 from Ohio University. He graduated cum laude from North Carolina AT&T with bachelor of science in business finance, where he was a five time all-academic selection. As a collegiate athlete for the Aggies, Byron was a seven time conference champion, two time NCAA qualifier, and a conference record holder. He also coached at his alma mater from 2006-2007.
 
Born in Washington, DC, to Cyril and Marsha Jones-Byron, he attended Oxon Hill High school in Maryland. In 2002, placed in the state meet in the 200 and 400 and anchored his squad to a national indoor title in the 4x200 relay.