Couts returns home to coach Greenville Lions
August 14, 2011

By David Claybourn
Herald-Banner Sports Editor

GREENVILLE -- If as they say there is no substitute for speed, then there’s no substitute that could take the place of the Greenville Lions’ new football assistant and track and field coach.

Brandon Couts, who was an NCAA national sprint champion in 2000, has returned to his alma mater as a coach. He’s currently working with the secondary in football and in the spring will serve as the head track and field coach of the Lions.

“I’m very excited to be here,” Couts said. “I will just try to keep the kids in the right direction.”

If the Lions follow his direction they better run fast to keep up. Couts won a record 15 Big 12 track and field titles while competing for Baylor University, plus ran on four NCAA national championship 4x400-meter relay teams and claimed the NCAA indoor national 400-meter title in 2000.

Couts clocked some blazing times while at Baylor, including a 44.72 in the 400, a 20.40 in the 200 and a 10.09 in the 100. He once ran a 4.1 in the 40-yard dash, which would have certainly made him one of the fastest football players in the nation. He played football for the Greenville Lions but concentrated on track and field at Baylor.

“Going to a big, prestigious school, graduating, being able to compete in the Big 12 and NCAA championships changed my whole world,” said Couts, who is the Lions’ school record holder in the 400-meter dash.

What motivated Couts in athletics was “just being able to go out there and be the best I could be.”

He’ll be sharing that same competitive spirit and focus on speed with the Lions after coaching five seasons as an assistant at Colorado University and one year at Tarleton State.