Harvard Track and Field Welcomes Kebba Tolbert to Coaching Staff

Kebba Tolbert joins the Harvard track and field coaching staff after serving as assistant coach at UTEP. (Photo courtesy of UTEP athletic communications)

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Kebba Tolbert  has joined the Harvard track and field coaching staff as an assistant coach for the upcoming season. Tolbert joins the Crimson after working as an assistant coach for the track and field team at UTEP and serving as and head coach of the Portland State men's and women's track and field and cross country programs. 

"This is a fantastic opportunity on many levels as I get the chance to work and develop athletes in an elite academic environment where excellence is fostered," Tolbert said. "I really believe in the vision that Jason Saretsky and the rest of the staff have for building Harvard track and field into a consistent Ivy League contender and a national-level program."

Tolbert began his coaching career at Iowa Wesleyan and produced 21 All-Americans and the school's first national champions. During his tenure, his athletes set 25 school records, 21 conference records and broke two national marks.

Tolbert spent two season at Mckendree as associate Coach, helping the team to three national titles and coached athletes to 18 national championships.

After his stint at Mckendree, Tolbert joined Syracuse's program as an assistant coach. During his time with the Orange, Tolbert added two NCAA qualifiers, one USATF qualifier and an all-American along with several school records to his coaching resume.

In 2003 Tolbert joined Portland State as head coach of the track and field and cross country teams. Tolbert found great success with the Vikings as his teams consistently had top finishes in the Big Sky conference indoor and outdoor championships and the highest point totals in school history. Athletes would once again find great success under Tolbert. producing eight PSU Athletes of the Year, 22 Big Sky Champions and 79 All-Big Sky honors recipients.

Tolbert joined UTEP in 2008 and made an immediate impact on the Miner's squad, finishing his coaching career there with two athletes qualifying for the NCAA championships. Under his tutelage the program saw four NCAA titles and seven All-American awards. He also helped coach UTEP's first women's individual All-Americans in the sprints since 1999 and the first women's NCAA Champions since 2001.

A graduate of Colby College where he earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy, Tolbert earned his Master of Arts degree in exercise science in 1996 from Smith.