Elizabeth Allen has been announced as the new Head Coach of the Cross Country/Track & Field programs at Virginia State University, as named by Director of Athletics Tiffani-Dawn B. Sykes.
"I am excited to welcome Coach Allen as the head coach of our cross country and track and field programs," said Tiffani-Dawn B. Sykes, Associate Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics. "She embodies everything our student-athletes hoped for in their next coach and everything I envisioned in their next leader. Coach Allen made an incredible impression on the search committee, and I'm confident that our program will thrive under her guidance. Her appointment also marks a historic moment, as she becomes the first woman to lead our program."
Allen most recently spent three years at Virginia Commonwealth University as an assistant track & field coach, where she also served as recruiting coordinator and camp director. At VCU, she coached sprints, hurdles, relays, and multi-event athletes. During her time there, the track & field program won three Atlantic 10 Conference championships. Allen coached three athletes who broke four A-10 records and helped produce 19 conference champions in her event groups. Over her career, she has coached four team conference championships, 28 individual conference champions, seven conference MVPs, and two conference rookies of the year.
"It is a privilege and an honor to serve as the next Head Cross Country and Track & Field Coach at Virginia State University. I am both grateful and thankful that Tiffani-Dawn B. Sykes has given me the opportunity to serve and lead this program," said Allen. "I must give a special thanks to Coach Jon Riley at Virginia Commonwealth University and Chandra Cheeseborough-Guice at Tennessee State University for playing a vital role in my coaching career."
Prior to VCU, Allen led the track & field program at Allen High School for six years. As Head Coach, she oversaw and developed training in sprints, hurdles, relays, middle distance, throws, horizontal and vertical jumps. While managing all aspects of the girls' program, she raised over $65,000 in funding. She coached 10 Texas UIL 6A state qualifiers and 36 regional qualifiers. Under her leadership, the team won three district titles, two area titles, and earned a Texas 6A Region II runner-up finish. Thirty of her athletes received athletic scholarships to compete at the collegiate level, and 10 school records were broken during her tenure. Allen also served as meet director for the Allen Eagle Relays, the DFW Relays, and the Last Chance Meet.
Before Allen High School, she spent one year at the University of North Texas (UNT), coaching sprints, hurdles, and relays. While at UNT, she helped produce three NCAA West Preliminary qualifiers.
Allen began her collegiate coaching career under legendary Olympian Chandra Cheeseborough-Guice at Tennessee State University, where she coached sprints, hurdles, relays, pole vault, and multi-events for three years. During her time, the Tigerbelles won an Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) Championship and earned one OVC runner-up finish. Her athletes broke two OVC records, produced 12 OVC champions, one IAAF/U-20 qualifier, five NCAA East Preliminary qualifiers, one NCAA national qualifier, two OVC Freshman of the Year awardees, and one OVC Female Athlete of the Championship.
Before entering the collegiate ranks, Allen coached at the University School of Nashville (USN) for two years, producing four TSSAA state champions. Eight athletes qualified for the TSSAA State Championship, and eight school records were broken during her time there.
Formerly known as Elizabeth Pollock, Allen enjoyed a standout athletic career at Belmont University. As a Bruin, she was a five-time NCAA regional qualifier, five-time Atlantic Sun event champion, 11-time All-Atlantic Sun Conference performer, eight-time school record holder, and a USATF Junior National qualifier. In 2023, she was inducted into the Belmont University Sports Hall of Fame. She is a two-time graduate of Belmont, holding a bachelor's degree in Exercise Science and a Master of Sport Administration.
Allen holds USATF Level 1 and Level 2 certifications in Sprints, Hurdles, and Relays, as well as USTFCCCA certifications in Meet Management and Strength & Conditioning. She and her husband are proud parents of three children.
