Fred Kerley is a name that resonates with speed, power, and unrelenting drive in the world of track and field. Hailing from San Antonio, Texas, this sprinting sensation has carved out a legacy as one of the sport’s most versatile and dominant athletes. A three-time world champion, Kerley’s trophy case boasts a gold medal in the 100-meter dash at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, where he clocked a blistering 9.86 seconds, alongside a 4×100-meter relay gold from the same meet.

Add to that his silver medal in the 100 meters at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (held in 2021). Known for his towering 6-foot-3 frame, Kerley’s journey from a junior college standout to a global sprinting icon is nothing short of inspiring. But who’s the mastermind guiding this sprinting titan to greatness? Enter Quincy Watts, the coach behind Kerley’s meteoric rise. So, what’s the story behind this dynamic duo?

Meet Quincy Watts: Fred Kerley’s Coach

Well, Quincy D. Watts isn’t just a coach—he’s a sprinting legend in his own right, and his influence on Fred Kerley is undeniable. Born on June 19, 1970, in Detroit, Michigan, Watts burst onto the track scene as a prodigy. But we must say he was made for it because even during his high school days at Taft High School in Woodland Hills, California, he was a dual-sport phenom.

A promising basketball player who set the Los Angeles city section record in the 100 meters with a blazing 10.36 seconds. Well, so much at this level, but it was only on the collegiate level at USC where Watts truly found his calling. Quite interestingly, while he was dabbling on the Trojans’ football team, his running skills were making headlines. Particularly, it was his 400-meter sprint that turned heads.

But after he was done running on the tracks, he decided to help people run better. In a way, it was his way of giving back to the sport that catapulted him to fame. How did this Olympic champ end up shaping a talent like Kerley? Well, it was incidentally at Taft High School for the Watts’ coaching journey to kick off. And there he served as head coach, training young athletes and helping them to realize their dreams.

Later, he joined Harvard-Westlake School as an assistant coach before finding his way to USC as a volunteer assistant. And finally, the day came when their paths crossed—yes, of course, Watts’ and Kerley’s. And with Watts came a unique perspective to Kerley’s training regimen—blending his 400-meter expertise with Kerley’s natural 100-meter speed. Thus spoke the results? A sprinter is born who’s not just fast but technically flawless.

Quincy Watts’s Career Highlights and Achievements

Well, Quincy Watts isn’t just the guy whose coaching helped Fred Kerley to sprinting stardom; no, it was not just a fluke — the guy is a legend; he’s a track and field titan whose own career is the stuff of a superstar. Well, much before the social media buzz, his career peaked at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. There, he didn’t just win—he redefined the 400 meters.

Clocking an Olympic record of 43.50 seconds in the final, Watts raced past the field with a performance that left jaws on the floor. Yet he wasn’t done; hunger didn’t subside. Watts anchored the U.S. 4×400-meter relay team to gold, smashing a world record with a time of 2:55.74 alongside his other teammates, Andrew Valmon, Michael Johnson, and Steve Lewis. And with this marvelous performance, Watts finally cemented his status as a sprinting icon. But how did he follow up such a blockbuster moment?

The answer came a year later at the 1993 World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany. Here, Watts and the U.S. relay squad—featuring Butch Reynolds, Michael Johnson, and Antonio Pettigrew—they did again what they were best at; they turned up the heat again, and as was expected of them, they snagged gold in the 4×400 meters with a world record time of 2:54.29. That mark?

Guess what, Guys, can you believe it, it’s still standing today, a testament to Watts’ impact on the sport. Back in his USC days, Watts had already flashed brilliance, winning NCAA titles and setting the stage for his global takeover. From a high school phenom who owned the LA city section 100-meter record (10.36 seconds) to an Olympic and world champ, Watts’ career is a highlight reel that keeps on giving. But what’s he done with all that glory since hanging up his spikes?

Who Else Has Quincy Watts Coached Besides Fred Kerley?

Totally! I mean, after winning Olympic gold himself, Watts has built this incredible coaching career that makes him a true legend in the sport. He’s got this amazing ability to take raw talent and just mold it into something spectacular. And while his work with Fred Kerley has put him in the spotlight recently—guiding a three-time world champion to even more sprinting glory—it’s wild to think that’s just the tip of the iceberg! Watts’ coaching resume is stacked!

He’s worked with everyone from world record holders to these amazing junior talents. He’s left his mark on so many runners, each bringing their unique style to the track. I’m so ready to dive into the stories of the athletes he’s mentored and figure out what makes his coaching so special! Let’s do this! Alright, so first up, Michael Norman—speed and versatility personified! World champ in the 400m and Olympic gold in the 4×400 relay?

Yes, please! And that world indoor record in the 400m—a scorching 43.45 seconds back in 2019 with Watts at USC? Insane! He switched coaches in ’23, but Watts helped him unlock that raw talent. Even Norman said his Olympic qualification in 2024 is his “redemption story,” a nod to what Watts built. Seriously, how does Watts turn that potential into podium finishes? It’s mind-blowing!

Then there’s the incredible Rai Benjamin! Second-fastest ever in the 400m hurdles—46.17 seconds! He was a star under Watts at USC, winning tons of NCAA titles. And even with new coaches, his two golds in Paris 2024 show Watts’ lasting influence. His high school coach even said, “He’s doing his thing,” which goes back to Watts’ precision. Imagine coaching a hurdler with that kind of unbelievable potential!

Alright, next up, let’s talk about the super talented Ariana Washington! She crushed it in college, winning NCAA championships in the 100 and 200 meters while at Oregon—that’s amazing! But get this: her time with Watts at USC took her to another level, turning her into an Olympic Trials finalist! You know her for those incredible, explosive starts, right? That’s something she picked up from Watts—his emphasis on both speed and perfect form. And she’s carried that into her pro career, keeping her right up there with the best sprinters in the US.

Her story really shows how Watts has this amazing ability to take athletes who are already fantastic and just elevate them to that elite, top-tier level. It makes you wonder, with all his experience at the Olympics, how does he translate that into coaching sprinters like Ariana? What kind of insights does he bring to the table? It’s got to be fascinating!

And last but not least, we’ve got Tyrese Cooper! This guy was a U.S. junior champion and has even represented our country on the world stage—so cool! He made some serious waves at the World U-20 Championships, showing off his speed in the 100 and 200 meters. What’s interesting is that Watts coached him way back in high school! He helped Cooper secure those national titles before he even turned pro early.

It’s a bummer that injuries have kind of slowed things down for him lately, but you can’t deny the incredible early success he had under Watts. It shows how Watts has this amazing eye for spotting young talent and then nurturing it. Seriously, what’s the secret to taking a teenage phenom and molding them into someone who can compete on the world stage? Watts seems to have cracked the code!

It’s got to be more than just training, right? There’s got to be some special magic involved! Seriously, Watts’ track record is just insane! It’s like a treasure trove of amazing stories, and each athlete is proof of his incredible coaching. From Norman’s record-smashing runs to Benjamin’s hurdle domination, Washington’s sprinting talent, and Cooper’s early junior success, Watts has shown he can coach anyone, no matter the event or where they are in their career.

And his secret? It’s all about execution and trust—lessons he learned from his glory days winning a medal in the 400 meters at the Barcelona Olympics! That’s so cool! And he’s not stopping anytime soon! He’s still guiding the program at USC and working with amazing athletes like Kerley. It just makes you wonder, doesn’t it? Who’s going to be the next superstar to get that winning touch from Coach Watts?