 Rogers State Head Cross Country and Track and Field Coach Matt Kennedy announced the addition of Jamen Helton to his staff as an assistant coach.“I am thrilled to welcome Jamen Helton to the RSU cross country and track coaching staff,” said Kennedy. “Jamen’s impressive experience and passion for the sport make him a valuable addition to our team. Coming from the University of the Cumberlands, Jamen has demonstrated his dedication to fostering student-athlete development and achieving success at the collegiate level. His expertise in training methodologies, recruiting, and strategic race planning will undoubtedly contribute to our program’s continued growth and achievement. With his exceptional knowledge and enthusiasm, I am confident that Jamen will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our athletes and elevating our program to new heights. I am excited to see the positive impact he will have on our team and look forward to a successful season ahead.” Helton arrives on College Hill after two seasons at NAIA University of the Cumberlands where he most recently was named Mid-South Conference Assistant Coach of the Year in both cross country and track and field. With the Patriots, Helton helped lead the men’s cross country program to a second place finish at the MSC Championships after being ranked sixth in the preseason poll. This was the best finish the program has seen since the 2008 season. He coached five All-Conference honorees and had one NAIA National Championship qualifier. Helton came to UC after three seasons at NAIA Dakota Wesleyan. While with the Tigers, he served as the Director of Track & Field and Cross Country. Under his guidance, Dakota Wesleyan saw its first NAIA track & field champion. A native of Waterloo, Iowa, Helton ran for NCAA Division II Drury University as a distance runner, and still holds three top-ten times for the Panthers in the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters. He finished his collegiate career at Lewis University, where he qualified for the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships. Helton received a bachelor’s degree from Drury in teaching education, later earning a master’s degree from Lewis in instructional technology. He holds a USATF Level 1 certification and USATF Cross Country Specialist certification. |
