McCoy’s nickname was “Always Under 46” and he was a likeable and prolific 400m competitor on the world scene in the early 1980s. This is sad.
Update: FAMU, Hayes not commenting on Walter McCoy’s resignation as track coach
By David Saez • Democrat Staff Writer • August 27, 2009
Florida A&M University President James Ammons accepted the resignation of Walter McCoy Thursday as men’s track and field coach, the university announced Thursday night.
The resignation is effective immediately.
It came a week after Ammons proudly introduced McCoy as the new men’s track coach and Darlene Moore as the head women’s track and field coach.
McCoy’s resignation comes four days after he was booked and released from the Leon County Jail on an unemployment compensation fraud charge from Jefferson County, according to jail records.
According to Leon County Jail records, McCoy was arrested by the Tallahassee Police Department and registered at the county jail at 5:57 p.m. on Monday and was released at 9:08 that night.
FAMU spokeswoman Sharon Saunders said she was unable to say if the resignation was related to the legal case.
McCoy declined to speak when called at his Monticello home.
Ammons accepted McCoy’s resignation during a Thursday morning conference, the university reported.
School officials also indicated on Thursday that the university is presently examining all its’ employment options at this time, the release said.
“With the addition of these two new coaches, we hope to reignite the fire we know exists in FAMU track and field community,” Ammons said of the hiring of McCoy and Moore. “We hope to continue to produce track Olympians and attract athletes from across the state of Florida, across the nation and across the globe.”
McCoy, 50, is a two-time U.S. Olympic team member and former Florida State University runner who would have been the coach for his second college-level team. He was head coach at Bethune-Cookman University from 2003 to 2006.
During the 2007-2008 school year, he served as the Leon High track and field coach.
McCoy recently signed a one-year contract with FAMU. He replaced Rey Robinson who was fired earlier this year by FAMU Athletic Director Bill Hayes, who declined to speak about the resignation on Thursday.
Previous report
Florida A&M University announced late Thursday afternoon that Walter McCoy has submitted his resignation as head men’s track coach, effective immediately.
University President James H. Ammons accepted McCoy’s resignation during a Thursday morning conference.
School officials also indicated on Thursday that the university is presently examining all its employment options at this time.
Return to Tallahassee.com for more on this report.