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In its 29-year existence, the George Mason University men's track & field program has developed a tradition of excellence by producing some of the best track & field athletes-in the conference, in the nation and in the world. At the 2000 Summer Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, there were several Olympians that had run proudly for the Green & Gold in the last decade. Among them was Greg Haughton, one of the finest athletes to ever represent George Mason University. As fans and alumni alike looked on, Haughton ran on to bronze medals in both the individual 400 meters and as part of Jamaica's 4x400-meter relay. And you could guarantee that Dalton Ebanks was one of the many watching with pride. Ebanks begins his sixth year at the helm of the George Mason University men's track & field and cross country program, and has been an important part of the Patriot family for 18 years. He first came to George Mason in 1985 as an assistant coach for the women's track & field team, and began working with the men's team as an assistant in 1990. Since arriving in Fairfax he has been a major contributor in setting the men's program's philosophy and goals. Ebanks' more subtle style of coaching has been effective with Mason's athletes- after all, he has coached 24 All-Americans, seven national champions, 12 Penn Relay Carnival champions and a three-time Olympic medalist. Additionally Ebanks was a major factor in guiding the Patriots to the 1996 NCAA Indoor Championship and a runner-up finish outdoors. As a head coach he has kept the George Mason track & field tradition alive, leading the Patriots to seven straight NCAA Championship appearances and consecutive indoor and outdoor appearances for the second straight year. Under Ebanks George Mason has placed among the top-25 teams at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in four of the last five years, with a high of seventh place in 1999. Additionally Ebanks has produced numerous All-Americans and a national champion since taking over. In 2001-02 three-time All-American Allen Simms advanced to his third straight postseason appearance, qualifying for the NCAA Indoor Championships in both the long jump and triple jump. Seeded in the top five in both events, Simms was unable to compete due to a late-season hamstring injury, and he would go on to redshirt outdoors. The Patriots returned home scoreless from the NCAA Indoor Championship for the first time under Ebanks. Outdoors, the Patriots looked to fare better, qualifying both senior All-American hurdler Chris Stokes in the 110-meter hurdles and sophomore Brandon Simpson in the 400 meters. Although Stokes did not advance past the semifinals, Simpson entered the nine-competitor 400-meter finals with the third-fastest preliminary time. But the Patriots would fail to score as Simpson false started in the final. The Patriots have also continued to succeed regionally under Ebanks. In the last two years the team has not placed lower than fifth at the Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of America (IC4A) Championships indoors and out. Additionally the 4x400-meter relay won indoors in a meet-record time of 3:09.34. Within the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA), George Mason has had two conference Athletes of the Year, two Rookies of the Year and three Outstanding Performers of the CAA Championships since Ebanks took over. A key to Ebanks' success is excellent recruiting. To maintain the high level of talent in George Mason's cross country and track & field programs, Ebanks must bring in talented athletes-whether right out of high school or as transfers from junior colleges. He has an extensive area from which he recruits-from local Northern Virginia high schools to talent-rich Jamaica and as far as Europe and Africa. A native of Jamaica and a 1976 graduate of Philander Smith College in Little Rock, AR, Ebanks coached several national and Caribbean champions at Vere Technical High School in Hayes, Jamaica, before joining the Patriots. A 1970 graduate of Vere Tech, Ebanks coached at his alma mater for three years. In addition he has held coaching clinics in Ghana and worked with the country's national staff in 1990. Ebanks resides in Fairfax with his wife, Donna, and their three children Tanya, Karee' and Kareem. |
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