Howard University Men's Cross Country

Harrison joined the Howard University Department of Athletics on February 2013 as the Head Coach of the Bison Cross Country & Track and Field programs. "I am truly humbled by this opportunity to continue and enhance the cross country and track & field tradition here at Howard University, said Harrison at that time. There is a rich history that is to be remembered and celebrated here at The Mecca" During his three-year tenure, Harrison has re-established the program as one to be reckoned with, both on a conference and national level. In the past three years, Harrisons athletes have celebrated several MEAC Championships and NCAA qualifiers. His athletes remain atop the MEAC with members named to the Academic All-MEAC and Academic All-American teams. Under Harrisons leadership, the Bison have been to the NCAA Championships each of the past three years for outdoor track and field, and have competed in finals at the prestigious Penn Relays. Coach Harrison made an immediate impact at Howard during his first year, leading the men's and women's programs to 4th and 10th place Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships finishes, respectively. He also helped five Howard student athletes - Monica Todd (1st Team - 400mH), Matthew Colvin (2nd Team - LJ), Giovani Mowatt (3rd Team - 800m), Rajae Gayle (3rd Team - JT) and Elisha Metto (3rd Team - 3000mSC) earn All-MEAC honors months into his tenure. Howard began Harrison's first full season setting the tone by claiming a runner-up finish in the 2013 MEAC Cross Country championships, placing three student athletes on the all-conference team, and having 10 cross country team members named as MEAC All-Academic honorees , which tied for the most in the conference. Harrison joined the HU coaching staff with over 20 years as an educator and coach at the college level and formal school level, while being named Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Track Coach of the Year three times and NCAA Regional Coach of the Year twice. The 1992 Bucknell University graduate began his collegiate coaching career at Coppin State in Baltimore, Md., from Oct. 1996 to May 1998.  During his tenure, Harrison served as the sprints and jump coach, strength and conditioning coordinator while developing several record breaking student-athletes and IC4A/ECAC qualifiers. In 2000, he joined the Morgan State football staff as the wide receiver and kick returners coach, passing game coordinator and an NFL Scout Liaison. Following his time with the Baltimore-based Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference institutions, Harrison moved the CIAA  where he joined the Bowie State athletic department.  At BSU, Harrison extended his abilities beyond the playing field.  Athletically, Harrison once again took on football duties as the wide receiver and kick returners coach, passing game coordinator and an NFL Scout Liaison.  From 2001-06, Harrison was the head track and field coach and was named CIAA Women's Outdoor Track and Field Coach of the Year (2004-06) and NCAA Southeast Region Coach of the Year (2006).  He coached 35 NCAA All-Americans and five Arthur Ashe Scholars, while boasting the academic success of 39 student-athletes.  On the administrative side, Harrison was the Assistant Director of Athletics for Compliance (2003-06), the financial aid and registrar liaison, athletic academic advisor (2001-06), a lecturer (freshman seminar, health and wellness, weight lifting and conditioning), faculty advisor for the Epsilon Sigma Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. (2003-06), advisor of the Bulldog Varsity Christian Fellowship, and director of a mentor program (2001-06).   In June of 2006, he took his skills to the District of Columbia to join the University of the District of Columbia Department of Athletics from June 2006 to Aug. 2009.  As the head track and field coach, Harrison produced 15 All-Americans and was named the NCAA Division II Southeast Region Outdoor Track and Field Coach of the Year in 2008.  He was the USTFCCCA Independent Schools Representative and a member of the USTFCCCA Hall of Fame and Equity in Division II Track and Field Committee. Harrison also dipped in the basketball arena as a volunteer with the SIAC Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament, Director of Operations for the 25 th Anniversary of the 1982 Division II NCAA Basketball Championship (2007) and Co-Coordinator of the National Independent Women's Basketball Tournament (2008). During his tenure at UDC, Harrison was the Director of Compliance and Student Services, served on the NCAA Infractions Committee for UDC and the faculty advisor for the Omicron Gamma Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. His most recent collegiate experience took place at Cheyney University in Pennsylvania from Oct. 2009 to July 2011, where he served as the head coach for the women's cross country team and the women's track and field program. He coached six All-PSAC performers, a PSAC Triple Jump Champion and NCAA qualifier and a PSAC 100-meter and 200-meter Champion MVP (2011).  Harrison also broke 11 school records, while serving on the USTFCCCA Board of Directors and the 2 nd Vice President for Division II Track and Field. He also serves as a member of the Executive Committee for Division I Track and Field. "I am very excited about Coach Harrison, and what he will bring to the athletics department and our cross country and track & field program," said then Director of Athletics Louis "Skip" Perkins. "He has a solid coaching and administrative balance at the Division I, Division II and high school level that will take our program to the next level, while enhancing the life of our student-athletes." Harrison resides in the DMV with his wife Barbara, who also works at Howard, his daughter Maya and son Marc, Jr.  Harrison is also a financial member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.  

After rejoining Howard University in 2017, Cousins enters her second stint as Associate Head Coach focusing on the long sprints and relays. During the 2024-25 outdoor season, the women's team won to its fourth straight conference title. Howard sent a program-best 24 Bison to the NCAA East Regional Round with 12 student-athletes punching their tickets to the NCAA Championship Round.Six Bison received All-American status. During the 2024-25 indoor season, Cousins helped the women's squad to its fourth consecutive league championship. During the 2023-24 outdoor season, Howard sent 21 Bison to the NCAA East Regional Round with six student-athletes making the NCAA Championship Round. On the women's side, Cousins guided the team to its third straight conference title. Cousins guided the women's squad to its third consecutive MEAC Women's Indoor Track & Field Championship after the 2023-24 indoor season. During the 2022-23 campaign, the women's program won back-to-back MEAC titles with eight victories. At the NCAA East Regional Preliminary Round, the Bison had seven entries in Jacksonville with three punching their tickets to Austin for the Outdoor Championships. The 4x400 relay squad earned All-American status. During the 2022-23 indoor season, Cousins helped the Bison to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Indoor Title. Although the 2020 outdoor season was canceled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), the program had success during indoor seasons. The 4x400 relay squad of Oluchi Ike, Jessika Gbai, Ozioma Scott and Dasia Wilson claimed second overall while earning All-MEAC honors. The program also saw 24 Bison named to the MEAC Indoor & Outdoor Track & Field All-Academic Team. In the 2019 outdoor season, Howard's 4x400 relay squad of Sydney Benson, Jessika Gbai, Oluchi Ike, and Ozioma Scott qualified for the NCAA East Preliminary Round. That team also earned All-MEAC honors at the 2019 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Outdoor Championships. During the indoor season, Benson, Destiny Stanford, Melanie White, and Jessica Wright represented Howard in the Distance Medley Relay where they received All-MEAC recognition at the 2019 MEAC Indoor Championships. Academically, both squads received 2018-19 U.S. Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Academic honors. During the 2017-18 season, student-athletes under Cousins’ leadership earned All-MEAC honors and posted several personal best.   After her first stint at Howard, Cousins moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida where she served as the assistant coach for both the Men and Women’s track and field program.  She was named the 2016 Division II South Region Assistant Coach of the year.  She had athletes under her direction who were Peach Belt champions in the 100h, 400h, 400m, 100m and relays. She served two seasons at Nova Southeastern University before returning to Howard in September 2017.   Prior to Nova, Coach Cousins served as the Assistant Coach for both Men’s and Women’s Track here at Howard.  Cousins coached the sprints and hurdles during this time.  She coached several All-MEAC performers.   Prior to arriving to Howard, Coach Cousins ran professionally for five years and was a two-time member of the USA national team to compete at the World Indoor Championships in 2010 and 2012.   Jessica currently resides in Greenbelt, MD and graduated from the University of Arkansas with her B.A. in Social Work.  She holds USATF Level 1 coaching certification in sprints, hurdles and relays.

On September 6, 2017, Director of Athletics Kery Davis named World Olympian and alum David Oliver as its Director for Track & Field Program at Howard University. During the 2025-26 outdoor season, Oliver was named MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) Outstanding Coach after guiding HU to its fifth straight confernce title.  After the 2024-25 outdoor season, Oliver won 2025 NCAA Outdoor Mid-Atlantic Region Women's Coach of the Year after leading the women's team to its fourth straight conference title. Howard sent a program-best 24 Bison to the NCAA East Regional Round with 12 student-athletes punching their tickets to the NCAA Championship Round. Oliver saw six Bison receive All-American status. During the 2024-25 indoor season, Oliver was named MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) Outstanding Coach after leading the women's squad to its fourth consecutive league championship. During the 2023-24 outdoor season, Oliver sent 21 Bison to the NCAA East Regional Round with six student-athletes making the NCAA Championship Round. Sam Bennett earned All-American status in the short hurdles (110-meter). Additionally, the men's hurdlers were ranked first in the nation for two weeks. On the women's side, Oliver was named MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) Outstanding Coach after leading the team to its third straight conference title. Oliver was named MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) Outstanding Coach after leading the women's squad to its third consecutive MEAC Women's Indoor Track & Field Championship after the 2023-24 indoor season. After the 2022-23 campaign, Oliver was named 2023 NCAA Outdoor Mid-Atlantic Region Women’s Coach of the Year after leading the women's program to back-to-back MEAC titles with eight victories. On the final day, he was named MEAC Most Outstanding Coach after tallying a meet-record 241.5 points. At the NCAA East Regional Preliminary Round, the Bison had seven entries in Jacksonville with three punching their tickets to Austin for the Outdoor Championships. The 4x400 relay squad earned All-American status. During the 2022-23 indoor season, Oliver won the 2023 NCAA Division I Womens Coach of the Year after leading the Bison to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Indoor Title. Although the 2020 outdoor season was canceled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), the program had success during the cross country and indoor seasons. Distance runners Melanie White and Gavin Williams earned All-MEAC honors at the 2019 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Cross Country Championships. The season also saw 11 Bison named to the MEAC Cross Country All-Academic Team. During the 2019-20 indoor season, Kameron Davis (60-meter hurdles) received All-MEAC honors after placing third at the 2020 MEAC Indoor Track & Field Championships. On the women's side, the 4x400 relay squad of Oluchi Ike, Jessika Gbai, Ozioma Scott and Dasia Wilson claimed second overall while earning All-MEAC honors. The program also saw 24 Bison named to the MEAC Indoor & Outdoor Track & Field All-Academic Team. Howard doubled its participation in the 2019 NCAA Outdoor East Preliminary Round from two to four Bison: Sydney Benson (4x400 relay); Jessika Gbai (200-meter dash; 4x400 relay); Oluchi Ike (400-meter hurdles; 4x400 relay); and Ozioma Scott (400-meter dash; 4x400 relay). In his second year at the helm, Director Oliver witnessed several school records broken and multiple student-athletes receiving All-MEAC honors. Academically, both squads received 2018-19 U.S. Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Academic honors. In his first season (2017-18), Director Oliver saw Dominique Cleggett (long jump) and Uchechi Onuoha (400-meter hurdles) reach the 2018 NCAA Outdoor East Preliminary Round while watching nearly two dozen receive All-Academic honors. During the cross country season, Mohammed Bah and Destiny Stanford earned All-MEAC recognition. The Denver, Colo., native was destined to be a track & field star after his mother, Brenda Chambers, secured a spot on the 1980 Olympic Team in the 400-meter hurdles. Oliver returns to his alma mater as a highly decorated professional athlete.  He was the 2008 Olympic Bronze Medalist in the 110-meter hurdles, and the 2013 World Champion in the same event.  On the indoor track and field stage, he earned the Gold medal in the 2008 USA Indoor Championships in the 60-meter hurdles and bronze in the 2010 World Championships.  He maintained top 10 rankings in the world for 11 consecutive seasons, and has received several accolades including the 2010 Jesse Owens Award which recognizes the USA's Most Outstanding Track Athlete.  A two-time All-American as student-athlete at Howard University, Oliver was inducted into the 2014 Howard University Athletics Hall of Fame and the 2016 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Hall of Fame.   Off the track, Oliver dedicates his time to helping with youth track competitions and mentorship through the David Oliver Indoor Classic in Winston Salem, N.C., and the David Oliver Classic in Washington, D.C., while assisting sponsored athletes in the Quicksilver Track Club in Atlanta, Ga.  Oliver has been featured in several major magazines, including Essence Magazine, Sports Illustrated for Kids, Sobe Fit Magazine, Stack Magazine, Spikes Magazine, and ESPN the Magazine. In Sept. 2008, he was honored at Howard's 141st Opening Convocation for his outstanding achievements in athletics. Oliver was also honored by the Mayor of Denver with the naming of October 3rd as "David Oliver Day" and receiving a key to the city. He has also received the key to the city of Greensboro, N.C. Oliver obtained his bachelor's degree from Howard University in business administration in 2004. He is married to Emily Oliver and they have one son, Dawson.