Eastern Michigan Athletics
Sterling Roberts Promoted to Assistant Head Men's Track and Field Coach
10/23/2019 10:41:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
The EMU alumnus had been an assistant coach with the program since 2012
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Eastern Michigan University head men's track and field coach John Goodridge announced the promotion of Sterling Roberts to assistant head coach, effective Monday, Oct. 21.
Roberts enters his eighth season on the Eagles' coaching staff after seven years as an assistant coach with the program, specializing in sprints, hurdles, and jumps. He was honored by the Mid-American Conference as its inaugural Men's Indoor Track and Field Assistant Coach of the Year in 2018, before sweeping the MAC Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field Assistant Coach of the Year awards following the 2019 campaign. Since Roberts returned to his alma mater, the Green and White have captured five MAC team championships: winning indoor titles in 2013 and 2018, as well as outdoor crowns in 2014, 2015, and 2018.
"Coach Roberts has been an integral part of our team's success," said Goodridge. "I am thrilled we are able to reward his hard work ethic and contributions to our student-athletes through this well-deserved title change."
"I'm honored and excited for the challenge," added Roberts. "As an alumnus and now as a coach, EMU has provided me many positive experiences throughout my collegiate and professional career, and I certainly appreciate coach Goodridge, (Vice President/Director of Athletics) Scott Wetherbee, and the administration for affording me another opportunity for continued growth."
Roberts enjoyed a standout year during the 2013-14 campaign, as he was named the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Assistant Coach of the Year. Under Roberts' tutelage, Tyler Brown had an outstanding freshman campaign after being crowned MAC champion in the 400m during both the indoor and outdoor seasons, as well as running on the winning indoor 4x400m and outdoor 4x100m and 4x400m relays. Brown was later named the MVP for the MAC Outdoor Championships.
Additionally, the 4x100m relay team of Brown, Cameron Bolton, Jeff Elam, and Chris Scott broke the EMU record at the Drake Relays, April 26, with a time of 39.98 seconds, marking the first time an Eagle lineup had ever crossed the 40-second barrier. The 4x400m team of Bolton, Brown, Elam, and Mason Waynes turned in the second-fastest time in program history at the NCAA East Regional and went on to take 13th at the NCAA Championships, with all four athletes garnering Second Team All-America honors.
Roberts continued to train Brown as he went to compete in the USA Junior National Championships, in which he took home gold in the 400m with a lifetime-best time of 45.74 seconds. Brown represented the USA at the 2014 Junior World Championships, taking eighth in the 400m while the 4x400m relay team took home the gold medal.
Roberts graduated from Eastern Michigan in 2003 where he was a four-year varsity track student-athlete. He competed as a sprinter and hurdler who specialized in the 400m hurdles. Roberts was a two-time All-MAC award winner, while he also was a member of the 4x400m relay team that won a MAC Championship in 2002. He later earned his master's degree from Defiance College in 2011.
Before rejoining EMU, Roberts worked as a volunteer assistant coach for the University of Illinois where he assisted with the development and modification of the training program for male sprinters, hurdlers, and jumpers. He coached four different NCAA preliminary qualifiers during his time with the Big Ten Conference outfit.
Prior to his year with the Fighting Illini, Roberts was an assistant coach at Defiance from 2008-11. While with the Yellow Jackets, he was in charge of recruiting male and female jumpers, hurdlers, and sprinters, along with assisting in establishing a database for coordinating recruiting among all coaches. He also coached an NCAA Division III national qualifier in the pole vault, high jump, and decathlon.
Roberts also has coached at the high school level as he was the head coach of the Wakefield High School track and field programs in Raleigh, N.C. While at Wakefield, he coached five high school All-Americans including the Nike Indoor National 200m champion.
Roberts enters his eighth season on the Eagles' coaching staff after seven years as an assistant coach with the program, specializing in sprints, hurdles, and jumps. He was honored by the Mid-American Conference as its inaugural Men's Indoor Track and Field Assistant Coach of the Year in 2018, before sweeping the MAC Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field Assistant Coach of the Year awards following the 2019 campaign. Since Roberts returned to his alma mater, the Green and White have captured five MAC team championships: winning indoor titles in 2013 and 2018, as well as outdoor crowns in 2014, 2015, and 2018.
"Coach Roberts has been an integral part of our team's success," said Goodridge. "I am thrilled we are able to reward his hard work ethic and contributions to our student-athletes through this well-deserved title change."
"I'm honored and excited for the challenge," added Roberts. "As an alumnus and now as a coach, EMU has provided me many positive experiences throughout my collegiate and professional career, and I certainly appreciate coach Goodridge, (Vice President/Director of Athletics) Scott Wetherbee, and the administration for affording me another opportunity for continued growth."
Roberts enjoyed a standout year during the 2013-14 campaign, as he was named the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Assistant Coach of the Year. Under Roberts' tutelage, Tyler Brown had an outstanding freshman campaign after being crowned MAC champion in the 400m during both the indoor and outdoor seasons, as well as running on the winning indoor 4x400m and outdoor 4x100m and 4x400m relays. Brown was later named the MVP for the MAC Outdoor Championships.
Additionally, the 4x100m relay team of Brown, Cameron Bolton, Jeff Elam, and Chris Scott broke the EMU record at the Drake Relays, April 26, with a time of 39.98 seconds, marking the first time an Eagle lineup had ever crossed the 40-second barrier. The 4x400m team of Bolton, Brown, Elam, and Mason Waynes turned in the second-fastest time in program history at the NCAA East Regional and went on to take 13th at the NCAA Championships, with all four athletes garnering Second Team All-America honors.
Roberts continued to train Brown as he went to compete in the USA Junior National Championships, in which he took home gold in the 400m with a lifetime-best time of 45.74 seconds. Brown represented the USA at the 2014 Junior World Championships, taking eighth in the 400m while the 4x400m relay team took home the gold medal.
Roberts graduated from Eastern Michigan in 2003 where he was a four-year varsity track student-athlete. He competed as a sprinter and hurdler who specialized in the 400m hurdles. Roberts was a two-time All-MAC award winner, while he also was a member of the 4x400m relay team that won a MAC Championship in 2002. He later earned his master's degree from Defiance College in 2011.
Before rejoining EMU, Roberts worked as a volunteer assistant coach for the University of Illinois where he assisted with the development and modification of the training program for male sprinters, hurdlers, and jumpers. He coached four different NCAA preliminary qualifiers during his time with the Big Ten Conference outfit.
Prior to his year with the Fighting Illini, Roberts was an assistant coach at Defiance from 2008-11. While with the Yellow Jackets, he was in charge of recruiting male and female jumpers, hurdlers, and sprinters, along with assisting in establishing a database for coordinating recruiting among all coaches. He also coached an NCAA Division III national qualifier in the pole vault, high jump, and decathlon.
Roberts also has coached at the high school level as he was the head coach of the Wakefield High School track and field programs in Raleigh, N.C. While at Wakefield, he coached five high school All-Americans including the Nike Indoor National 200m champion.
Players Mentioned
Sprints/Jumps
/ Men's Track & FieldTrack & Field at 2025 Spartan Invitational
Tuesday, April 08
2025 MAC Indoor Track & Field Championships Cinematic Recap
Wednesday, March 05
2025 MAC Indoor Track & Field Championships Day 1 Highlights
Saturday, March 01
2025 MAC Indoor Championships Hype Video
Wednesday, February 26