SPORTS RELEASE
Forde resigns APSU post
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Su-02 BK/bk 7/29/195
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn.-Elvis Forde, Austin Peay State University's women's track and field and men and women's
cross country for the last 13 years, has resigned to become the men and women's head track and field/cross country
coach at Illinois State University.
The former six-time NCAA All-American and member of the 1984 and 1988 Barbados Olympic teams, Forde
helped build a strong Lady Govs track program, especially in recent years. His Lady Govs won the 2001 Ohio Valley
Conference Indoor title, the first in APSU history.
"We certainly hate to lose Elvis," APSU athletics director Dave Loos said. "He just did a terrific job for us--we
appreciate his hard work and dedication to this program and university. We wish him the best in his new position."
The Lady Govs development coincided with the Forde recruiting athletes from his native Barbados. In 2001,
Sheena Gooding and Ayesha Maycock, both from Barbados, were named OVC Indoor Athletes of the Year in leading
APSU to the league title. Gooding also earned co-OVC Indoor Athlete of the Year status in 2002.
Ths past spring, sophomore Lauren Maul was named OVC Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year. She too is from
Barbados.
Gooding (twice indoor, twice outdoor), Maul and rising senior Tanika Smotherman all have participated in the NCAA
championships over the last two years. In fact, Gooding finished fifth a year ago in the NCAA 800-meter championships
to earn All-America honors.
Forde came to APSU in the summer of 1989 after an illustrious track career. First at Murray State and later at
Southern Illinois-Carbondale, Forde garnered six All-America awards, including four while at SIU. In 1984, Forde was a
member of the Southern Illinois 1600-meter relay team that set the NCAA record in both the indoor (3:04.60) and
outdoor (3:00.87) competitions. As a senior, Forde was named Southern Illinois' Outstanding Student-Athlete. In 1995
Forde was inducted into the SIU Athletic Hall of Fame.
After completing his collegiate career in 1984, Forde earned a spot on the national team of his native Barbados
and competed in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympiad. In Los Angeles, Forde qualified for the semi-finals at 400-meters and
was a member of the 4x400-meter relay team, which qualified for the finals and finished sixth. In both 1986 and 1987,
Forde won the National Indoor Championships at 600-yards. He still ranks in the all-time top five at that distance.
A search will begin to find Forde's APSU replacement.