Xavier Kennedy joined the University of Memphis track & field staff in 2023 and has quickly established himself as one of the American Conference’s emerging jumps coaches. Working with the Tigers’ horizontal jumps, vertical jumps and pole vault athletes, Kennedy has helped elevate the program through technical development, championship performances, and national-caliber results.

In just three seasons at Memphis, Kennedy has coached six NCAA East Regional qualifiers, an American Conference Outdoor Conference Champion, four American Conference medalists, 21 American Conference scoring performances, a school record holder, an international championship qualifier and two USTFCCCA Top-10 Event Squad finishes.

His athletes have earned NCAA East Regional berths in the men’s high jump, men’s triple jump (twice), women’s high jump, women’s pole vault and women’s long jump. In 2025, Kennedy coached Oageng Mdlela to the American Conference Outdoor Championship in the men’s triple jump while also guiding Jadaja Baxter to the University of Memphis indoor women’s long jump school record.

Kennedy’s event groups have also earned national recognition through the USTFCCCA Event Squad Rankings, finishing 7th nationally in the 2025 Men’s Indoor Triple Jump and 10th nationally in the 2026 Women’s Outdoor Triple Jump. His coaching impact extends internationally as well, having coached Lilith Stenger, a qualifier for the German U20 National Championships.

Prior to Memphis, Kennedy spent two seasons at Brewton-Parker College, where he served as both assistant coach and head coach. During his first season, he helped lead the Barons to the first conference championship in program history, capturing the inaugural Southern States Athletic Conference Indoor Championship.

At Brewton-Parker, Kennedy coached nine NAIA National Qualifiers, two NAIA All-Americans, 12 SSAC Conference Champions and helped produce 66 All-Conference performers. His athletes also accounted for 51 school-record performances during his tenure.

Among his most notable accomplishments at Brewton-Parker was coaching Brandon Schultz to the NAIA National Record in the Indoor 60-Meter Hurdles (7.80) while Schultz captured back-to-back NAIA National Championships in the event.

Kennedy began his coaching career with the Southeast Striders Track & Field Club in Conyers, Georgia, where he spent six seasons developing youth athletes. His coaching philosophy centers on technical precision, individualized athlete development and building championship-level competitors capable of succeeding at the conference, national, and international levels.

A former Division I long jumper and triple jumper at Troy University, Kennedy has remained active within the profession as an NCSA Track & Field Evaluator, a GATFXCCA Clinician, a USATF Level I Certified Coach and a USATF Certified Official and Starter.

Kennedy earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Broadcast Journalism from Troy University in 2018.

Name	Title	Twitter	Phone	Email Address
CJ Jones	Interim Head Coach (Cross Country/Distance)		314-956-2109	cjnes117@memphis.edu
Xavier Kennedy	Assistant Coach (Jumps / Pole Vault)		901-678-5395	bxknndyi@memphis.edu

University of Memphis Athletics

2027 Women's Track and Field Coaching Staff

Coaching Staff