Principal Dave Myrie says Kingston College (KC) will be appointing a new head coach for its track and field programme soon, as Head Coach Leaford Grant prepares to step back at the end of the season.

Myrie says that Grant, who has guided KC to five ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ Athletics Championships titles in the last six years, will not be leaving the programme entirely, but will take on a reduced role moving forward.

“Leaford has indicated for a while that he will be stepping back after this Championships to deal with some issues, and we accepted and agreed with that,” Myrie said. “But I must point out, Leaford is not leaving. He has just stepped back, so he will still be involved in the programme.”

Myrie says that the change is part of a carefully managed succession plan and that Grant was involved in discussions about who would take over the role.

“We believe in succession planning and we started our discussions a while back as to who will succeed Leaford as head coach,” he said. “Very shortly, we will confirm who that person is. At this point in time, I don’t want to say whether it is internal or external, but we are looking at it and we are discussing it.”

Myrie also lauded Grant’s contribution to the school’s historic track and field success.

“He has done very well for us,”Myrie said. “I remember when I nominated and appointed Leaford as the head coach. As you may know, Leaford has been in KC’s programme for a number of years, long before he became head coach. In fact, Leaford predates me at KC as far as track and field is concerned.

“He has done extremely well, and I am very pleased. When I appointed him, of course, there were different views, but I said, ‘No, Leaford was going to be the head coach’, and I gave him the position. He has taken it on and he has done exceptionally well. Kudos to him for the masterful job he has done.”

KC, who are the most successful school in Boys’ Championships history, won their 36th Mortimer Geddes Trophy last month.

Myrie is reassuring stakeholders that the transition will be smooth and that the school’s championship-winning ambitions remain intact.

“We are confident about the programme,” he said. “Leaford will still be there, but he may not have the active day-to-day role he currently has.

“We expect to name our new head coach very shortly so that there is no lapse. Everybody wants to continue winning and there is no question about that. I have always said, ‘If you go into a competition to lose, then you best not go in at all’.”