Track & Field
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Phone:
- 325-8333
Season at MSU: 17th
Steve Dudley begins his 17th year at Mississippi State and his seventh in the role of head coach. Since returning to his alma mater in 2000, Dudley has tutored over 50 athletes to All-American status.
Dudley guided the Bulldog men to back-to-back Top 10 national finishes during the 2015-16 outdoor seasons, placing Mississippi State in a select group that includes perennial powerhouse programs Arkansas, Oregon, Texas A&M and Florida.
Dudley has coached six national champions to seven titles throughout his tenure as head coach. Last season, two Bulldogs claimed outdoor national titles with Marta Freitas winning the 1500m and Curtis Thompson taking first in the javelin. Rhianwedd Price won the outdoor 1500m in 2015, while Brandon McBride was the indoor and outdoor 800-meter run national champion during the 2014 season. He coached Erica Bougard to the 2013 Indoor pentathlon title and D’angelo Cherry to the 2013 Indoor 60-meter dash championship.
Under Dudley’s guidance, the MSU men’s track and field team saw its highest finish since 1923 at the 2015 NCAA Outdoor Championships when the team placed 8th, scoring 20 points. The women’s team had its highest finish at the 2015 NCAA Outdoor Championships with a 18th-place finish.
Throughout the 2014 season, Dudley was an integral part in the accomplishments of both the men and women’s track teams. Dudley wanted to prove that MSU meant business. He ended his first season with six athletes named to first or second team All-SEC; three named to the All-Freshman SEC team and had a total of seven athletes earn first, second or honorary All-American honors.
After the 2014 season, MSU track and field had eight athletes achieve All-American status. Out of these eight Dudley coached two athletes, including two-time national champion in the 800-meter run Brandon McBride. MSU track and field also saw 19 athletes qualify to compete in the 2014 Indoor and Outdoor National Championships. The MSU women’s team earned 10th overall at the Indoor NCAA National Championships under Dudley’s and his coach staff’s guidance. This was the highest ranking in school history.
Dudley, whose event focus is sprints, has seen numerous athletes through his 15 years achieve All-American status. In the 2013 season alone Dudley coached 12 out of 22 All-American Bulldogs. Also in the 2013 season, MSU had 14 school records and 42 Top 5 all-time performances. MSU saw a season that sent 12 athletes to NCAA Outdoor Championships, while claiming two individual national titles during the indoor campaign. The head coach led sophomore Erica Bougard to capture the NCAA Indoor Pentathlon Champion title with a school-record 4,399 points. He also aided senior D’Angelo Cherry in earning the indoor nation title in the 60-meter dash. Under Dudley’s guidance in 2013, the Bulldogs received both national and international attention, sending numerous athletes.
When he was named head coach in 2010, Dudley had plenty experience in coaching national champion athletes and All-Americans. Prior to being named the head coach of the MSU track and field teams, Dudley served as an assistant coach from 2000 to 2009 under Al Schmidt.
In his very first season as an assistant coach, Dudley had eight athletes earn all-America accolades. His success continued throughout the years.
Dudley coached Pierre Browne who was named the 2003 NCAA Indoor National Champion in the 60-meter dash and finished runner-up in the 100m at the outdoor national meet. That same season Dudley had six athletes acquire All-American honors. Another key season as an assistant coach come in 2005 when Dudley guided State’s 4x400-meter relay squad to a fifth place finish at the national championships. That same season he garnered six All-Americans.
As an assistant coach in 2008, Dudley led eight Bulldog sprinters to the regional qualifying marks. During that same season, he coached O’Neal Wilder to become a USA Track and Field Junior National Champion in the 400-meter dash, a bronze medal at the World Jr. Championships in the 400-meter dash and a gold medal in the 4x400 meter relay.
Dudley coached five more Bulldogs to earn All-American accolades in 2009. Dudley has always been a master of relays, and 2009 was no was a prime example. His 4x100-meter relay team finished 5th at the NCAA Championships and his 4x400-meter relay team earned medalist honors at the Mideast Regional Championships.
Prior to his coaching time at MSU, Dudley spent three seasons at Bevill State (Ala.) Community College. Dudley coached three NJCAA national champions and 19 all-Americans throughout his duration at Bevill State. In cross country, the men’s and women’s squads captured the Region XXII title in 1999. The Bears also won the 1998 Region XXII title en route to a third-place national showing. His 1999 Lady Bear team earned Academic Team of the Year honors, and the men finished second the same season. Twelve Bears earned Academic All-America accolades.
For Dudley it is not only about what his athletes can do on the track, but also what they can do in the classroom. Since becoming head coach, MSU has had 86 athletes make the SEC honor roll.
Before entering the coaching ranks, Dudley served as a captain for MSU’s track team from 1991-95. While at State, he was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll for three years (1993-95).
The Hamilton, Ala., native graduated with a bachelor’s degree in May 1995. He received his master’s degree in environmental geology also from State in December 2004.
Along with coaching, Dudley also serves as a member of the Mississippi State faculty.
Dudley’s National Champions
Curtis Thompson – 2016 Javelin (Outdoor)
Marta Freitas – 2016 1500m (Outdoor)
Rhianwedd Price – 2015 1500m (Outdoor)
Brandon McBride – 2014 800m (Outdoor)
Brandon McBride – 2014 800m (Indoor)
Erica Bougard – 2013 Pentathlon (Indoor)
D’Angelo Cherry – 2013 60m Dash (Indoor)
Pierre Browne – 2003 60m Dash (Indoor)
