Small Joins Illini Track Coaching Staff
August 12, 2022 | Women's Track & Field, Men's Track & Field
NEWS
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois track and field head coach Petros Kyprianou named a familiar face in Javonie Small as an assistant coach. Small will primarily be the men's and women's sprints, hurdles, relays coach as well as the recruiting coordinator.
"Javonie is a great addition to our staff on every level," said Kyprianou. "He is one of the most tireless and effective recruiters in the NCAA. Along with knowledge of my system in building programs and championship mindsets in student-athletes. Javonie was on my first staff at Georgia and helped us build a championship program. His knowledge and experience in the sprints and hurdles will be an asset to our current and future athletes."
Small joins the Illini after a six-year stint at Arizona State University (ASU) serving in the same role. He helped improve the ASU men's team from a 74th place finish at the NCAA Championships in 2017 to a ninth-place finish in 2021, the best since 2010. With his assistance, 22 updates were made to the ASU all-time top-10 lists in the 2021 and 2022 seasons alone.
He brought in some prominent members to the ASU track program in two-time and six-time All-Americans Jamar Marshal Jr. and transfer Cortney Jones, respectively. Marshall Jr. set the ASU record in the 60m and 110m hurdles under Small's direction. He also secured number one overall recruit and U20 Pan American champion Justin Robinson.
"I am so grateful to begin working as an assistant coach for the University of Illinois," said Small "I have worked under Coach Kyprianou in the past and feel blessed that he trusts me to assist him in carrying out his vision for success. I am grateful for my time at ASU, as it has helped develop me into a better coach and recruiter. Coach Kyprianou truly has the drive, passion, and vision to win a national championship and he has a proven track record of success. I am eager to hit the ground running to help move his vision forward!"
Prior to ASU, Small spent four years at the University of Georgia (UGA). First as a volunteer assistant coach in the 2013-15 seasons, then as the Director of Operations from 2015-17. This is where Small and Kyprianou first made their professional connection. From 2006-10 Small had his first crack at UGA where he was a volunteer assistant coach.
As the Director of Operations, he coordinated all operations and logistics for the track and field/cross country teams. He directed all home track meets and maintained proper usage of the budget.
As an assistant coach, Small assisted coach Kyprianou in coaching American triple jump record holder and Olympian Keturah Orji and Olympic heptathlete Kendell Williams. Williams became a seven-time NCAA champion and Orji won eight titles. He also created group and individual workouts and carried them out in the absence of event coaches.
Preceding his NCAA days, Small spent time at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Georgia as the girls track and field coach for the 2011-13 seasons. In 2012 he founded the Nitro Track Elite club. Here he worked with athletes ages 4-18 and exposed them individualized high level training and to collegiate and professional level competition.
Prior to his coaching days, Small earned his Bachelor's of Science in Sociology from Morehouse College (Division II) in Atlanta. Here he was a six-time All-American hurdler and eight-time SIAC conference champion.
The former Texas high school state champion in the 110 hurdles also competed at the U.S. Championships in 2006 and 2007. He advanced to the semifinal of the 400-meter hurdles at the championships in 2006 and finished 15th overall. He is a five-time high school conference champion; three-time in the 110m hurdles and two-time in the 300m hurdles.
Small is making the move to Champaign with his four-year-old daughter and wife, Sherena. She is a Portland, Oregon native and was a triple jumper at the University of Nevada – Reno.
