Coach Nile Legania, Dillard University track and field coach, finds the most rewarding aspect of coaching to be providing opportunities for students to pursue collegiate athletics.
Legania, a New Orleans native and former multi-sport collegiate athlete at Delta State and Wayne State College, is a 13-year coaching veteran, including 10 years as the track and field head coach at Edna Karr High School in New Orleans. At 5 years old, he always had a love for sports. He was a PE Teacher for eight years, which helped him decide to inspire kids to develop into champions.
“I think the most rewarding thing about coaching, especially at the collegiate level, is giving kids an opportunity to continue their collegiate career. For most kids, giving them an opportunity to be a collegiate athlete,” said Legania.
Despite the coronavirus and social distancing, the track and field team was able to have a complete season due to all competitions being outdoors.
“The men won the conference and won the 4×1 nationals. And the women finished second in the conference, and that was the last time that they finished second,” said Legania.
During his first year at Dillard, Legania led the school to its first-ever NAIA national championship (4×100 relay), won the GCAC Men’s Coach of the Year Honors, led the men to their first GCAC title since 2014, aided the women to a runner-up status at the conference championship, produced a total of 56 All-GCAC track and field selections (32 men and 24 women), totaled five GCAC selections during the cross country season (3 women and 2 men), and two women’s runners qualify for the NAIA Cross Country Championships.
“It’s not one person on our roster that does one or two things,” said Legania. “These kids are not only doing one thing, they’re helping us everywhere. And that’s how we’re able to be successful across the board, he continued.
With being a coach, Legania proves that he’s not an uptight, suit-and-tie type of guy, but a mentor and laidback coach.
“ Students on campus see the real relationships we have with our athletes. We allow them to be themselves. I don’t want you to walk around here uptight because we’re not going to walk around here uptight.”
Legania’s advice to athletes is that not everyone will accept their success, emphasizing the importance of resilience. He said, “In real time, not everyone is going to like you. When you bring that mentality to track and field or to sports in general, it just is what it is. So I think just knowing that it’s an opportunity that you will not be liked is something that’s expected.”
Despite high tension, Coach Nile is excited for the upcoming conference but acknowledges the pressure on his athletes. He aims to win both the conference and national championships.
“We want, naturally, to win a national championship. But you know, the goal at hand is to win a conference championship, and we’ve been the Champs since 2021.”
You can find the most up-to-date information regarding the schedule for track and field season on dillardbleudevils.com
