WASHINGTON – American University cross country and track head coach Sean Graham announced the addition of assistant coach Tyra Massey to the Eagles' staff on Wednesday. Massey, who graduated from Auburn in 2020 after a successful sprinting career, joins AU after a year spent as a volunteer assistant coach at Samford University.
 
"I am very excited to welcome coach Tyra Massey to our staff. This is a very exciting time for our men's and women's program as we expand into short and long sprints on the track," Graham said. "Tyra's history as an athlete at Auburn in conjunction with her coaching at Samford is the perfect combination of experience to build this portion of our program. I'm thrilled for her to begin working with our current sprinters and recruit great new student-athletes who will strive for success at the Patriot League and NCAA level."
 
An SEC Academic Honor Roll member during her time with the Tigers, Massey graduated with her degree in exercise science and is currently working toward her master's in business administration from Alabama A&M.

"I am super excited to work with Coach Graham and Coach Noel. They have had a lot of success with the program, and I am eager to help continue expanding the program with the sprints," Massey said. "I look forward to adding to the positive atmosphere that this program has created, and I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to work with the student-athletes here at American University and help them grow as individuals throughout their career."
 
Upon her graduation from Auburn, Massey joined the track & field program at Samford University as a volunteer assistant coach, working primarily with the sprints squad. During her time with the Bulldogs, she helped guide both the men's and women's teams to team title sweeps at the 2021 SoCon Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
 
Individually, Massey helped coach a pair of men's hurdle specialists to the NCAA Championships East Preliminary Round last year. She also mentored six podium finishers at the SoCon Indoor Championships, including four champions and a 1-2-3 sweep in the men's 60m hurdles. During the outdoor championship meet, her student-athletes earned eight podium finishes and three individual titles in the men's 100m dash, 110m hurdles, and 400m hurdles.
 
For the latest on American University Cross Country and Track, stay tuned to AUEagles.com and follow the team on Twitter (@AU_TrackXC) and Instagram (@AU_TrackXC).