Curtis Allen - Track & Field Coach

Curtis Allen

Title:
Assistant Coach - Sprints, Relays
Email:
callen@athletics.ucla.edu

Curtis Allen begins his fourth season as an assistant coach at UCLA, coaching sprints and relays.

The 2020 indoor season saw impressive performances up and down the sprint roster. Shae Anderson led the way for the Bruin women in the 400m, twice setting the indoor record in the event this season and notching a personal best of 52.07 at the Don Kirby Elite Invite (Feb. 14). Allen also helped guide Anderson and the rest of the 4x400m relay squad -- Meleni Rodney, Makenzie Pierre-Webster, and Catherine Leger -- to a school-record time of 3:30.28 at the MPSF Championships. Anderson (400m) and the 4x4 squad qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships (eventually canceled).

Kenroy Higgins II had a breakout season in the 60m, clocking a school-record time of 6.59 at the MPSF Championships en route to NCAA Indoor qualification. Myles Webb and Harrison Schrage posted times of 6.69 (4th in UCLA indoor history) and 6.81 (T-4th), respectively, this past season. A trio of Bruin women -- Chinyere Okoro (7.42), Kenyla Miles (7.44), and Makenzy Pierre-Webster (7.45) -- all recorded Top-10 UCLA 60m times this past season.

Okoro also posted the No. 4 indoor 200m time in UCLA history this past season, going 23.83 at the New Mexico Collegiate Open. Fellow freshman Catherine Leger finished second at the Dr. Sander Invite with a time of 24.02. the No. 6 time in program indoor history. Pierre-Webster is currently No. 8 in program history at 24.14.

Allen also helped freshman Cameron Reynolds to a seventh-place finish at the league indoor championships in the 400m, as Reynolds' time of 47.74 was good for the No. 10 time in UCLA indoor history.

Allen’s sprint squad started to truly take form in his second year with the Bruins. Allen helped guide Joe Herrera and Meleni Rodney to strong 400m finishes at the Pac-12 Championships. Hererra finished second overall in the men’s competition with a time of 46.25 while Rodney notched fourth place in the women’s race with a time of 52.06. Rodney’s mark was good for the eighth-fastest time in school history.

Allen helped guide the men’s 4x100m relay team to NCAA Outdoor Championship qualification. Leon Powell, Harrison Schrage, Kenroy Higgins II, and Seth Holloway each earned USTFCCCA All-America honors after combining to finish 22nd in the preliminary heats.

Rodney (400m) and Myles Webb (100m) each qualified to compete at the NCAA West Regional Championships, where they each placed in the preliminary heats. Allen also helped send the women’s 4x100m squad (S. Acolatse, J. Gruenwald, T. Moses, S. Moore) to Regionals, as the team finished 16th in prelims.

Allen served as the head track & field coach and assistant football coach at College of the Sequoias from 2002-17. He led COS track & field to unprecedented success, including a state championship in 2017 for the men’s program and Top 5 finishes for both men’s and women’s teams from 2014-17. Allen coached 2016 Olympian and 2017 USATF 200m champion Deajah Stevens to California Junior College championships in both 200 meters and 400 meters in 2015.

From 2005-10, Allen was the head football coach, compiling a record of 35-28 and leading the Giants to postseason bowl games in 2005, 2006 and 2010. He coached 48 all-conference players during his time as head coach, including five All-Americans.

A former Canadian Football League pro and an all-conference defensive back at Fresno State, Allen earned his BA from Fresno State in 1991 and his masters in Sports Science from the U.S. Sports Academy.

Allen and his wife Charlotte have six children.