Kenneth Giles

Kenneth Giles

Kenneth Giles is one of the most accomplished coaches in Norfolk State University history and a legend in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). Entering his 21st season as head men’s track and field coach and 25th as head men’s cross-country coach in 2025–26, Giles also serves as Director of NSU’s Track & Field Programs, overseeing both men’s and women’s teams.

Since joining NSU in 1999, Giles has built a dynasty. Under his leadership, the Spartans have captured 15 MEAC cross-country titles, including a record seven consecutive championships from 2000–2006, and multiple top-12 NCAA regional finishes. On the track, Giles guided NSU to seven straight sweeps of MEAC indoor and outdoor titles (2006–2012) and eight consecutive indoor crowns. His teams reclaimed dominance with additional sweeps from 2021–2025.

Giles’ athletes have earned over 100 individual MEAC championships, more than 400 All-MEAC honors, and 23 NCAA Division I All-America distinctions. Notable standouts include four-time All-American Martha Bissah and three-time All-American Kiara Grant. He has been named MEAC Most Outstanding Coach more than 30 times and was honored as one of the MEAC’s 50 Legends in Coaching.

A former standout runner himself, Giles was a Junior College All-American in the 800 meters and set records at the University of North Florida before transitioning into coaching. His enduring success and mentorship have made him a cornerstone of NSU athletics and a 2025 inductee into the Norfolk State Athletic Hall of Fame.