Burrell leaves behind legacy of track excellence
Leroy Burrell, who returned to his alma mater to lead the University of Houston track and field program to national prominence but experienced unfathomable tragedy 10 months ago with the loss of his son Cameron, announced Thursday he was stepping down to become the head coach at Auburn.
Thus ends one of the most successful coaching runs in UH history, a 23-year tenure that produced 11 Olympians, 15 NCAA champions, 46 school records, 254 All-Americans and 353 individual conference champions.
After taking over for legendary coach Tom Tellez in 1999, Burrell led the Cougars to 44 conference men’s and women’s team championships and was a 37-time coach of the year in Conference USA and the American Athletic Conference.
After beginning his association with the school as an 18-year-old recruit from Philadelphia, Burrell “grew up and realized all my dreams at the University of Houston.” He made the transition from competitive career as Olympic gold medalist and one-time “Fastest Man in the World” to eventually teaming up with close friend and nine-time gold medalist Carl Lewis, another UH great, to turn the Cougars into a track and field power.
“For more than 34 years, I poured everything I had into Cougar track and field as a student-athlete, alumnus and coach,” Burrell, 55, said in a statement released by the school. “Before August last year, my intention was to continue to lead the program, but that all changed when I lost my son, Cameron, on Aug. 9, 2021.”
Cameron Burrell, an NCAA champion and world-class sprinter in his own right, died from a self-inflicted gunshot. He was 26.
“It was difficult for me to return, but with time and everyone’s support, I was able to function well enough to return in a limited role,” Burrell said. “In reality, I returned, but I have not quite been the same leader that I was. My only goal was to support the student-athletes because they really became all that mattered. All the while I prayed to either return to being myself or for a door to open to allow me to do something else. The opportunity at Auburn is exactly the door I’d prayed for because it provides me an opportunity to wipe my slate clean and jump-start my career without the daily reminder of losing my son.”
UH associate head coach Will Blackburn will serve as interim head coach.
“Leroy leaves Houston with an incredible legacy and one upon which we will build,” UH vice president for athletics Chris Pezman said in a statement. “We couldn’t be more thankful to him, (wife) Michelle and their family for everything they have done for our university and community. He will leave as one of our most decorated coaches in the history of our department.”
Along the way, the Cougars won back-to-back national championships in the 400 relay — which featured the younger Burrell — in 2017 and 2018. The 2017 relay team of John Lewis III, Elijah Hall, Mario Burke and Burrell set an NCAA record with a blazing time of 38.17 seconds.
That success would catapult the Cougars to consecutive third-place team finishes, matching the best in school history, at the NCAA outdoor championships in 2018 and 2019. The 2017 season would be one to remember for the Burrell family as Cameron won the 100 meters with a time of 10.02 seconds to become the program’s first national champion in the event since his father earned the title in 1990.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, UH was considered among the national title contenders after sweeping the AAC men’s and women’s indoor championships. But the Cougars never got a chance to improve on the previous thirdplace finishes as sporting events were canceled because of the pandemic.
UH swept the men’s and women’s AAC outdoor titles in 2021. At this spring’s AAC outdoor championships, Wichita State claimed its first title to stun the five-time defending champion Cougars. UH’s 400 relay placed third at last week’s NCAA outdoor championships, and the Cougars finished in a tie for 18th in the team standings.
Few knew it would be the last official act with the Cougars for Burrell. The timing comes as UH prepares to make the move to the Big 12 in 2023.
“He’s like a little brother to me. We are like Batman and Robin,” said Lewis, an assistant coach at UH. “We’ve known each other for a very long time as teammates, friends and coaches, and I’m excited for him and this new opportunity at Auburn.”
As a student-athlete, Burrell was a three-time NCAA champion with the Cougars, twice winning the indoor long jump and capturing the outdoor 100 meters. After completing his collegiate eligibility, Burrell was ranked as the world’s top sprinter in 1990 and 1991 after winning 19 of his 22 races in the 100.
Burrell won a gold medal as a member of the U.S. 400 relay, which posted a worldrecord time of 37.40 seconds at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain. Burrell also qualified for the 1996 Games in Atlanta but was forced to withdraw because of an Achilles injury.
Two years later, Burrell retired from competition and moved into coaching.
Just this week, Burrell and Lewis reminisced on social media about happier times — when the two battled at the U.S. Championships in 1991, leading to Burrell’s first world record (9.90) in the 100.
But the deep pain Burrell continues to experience has been a constant reminder.
“I’ve been hurting lately,” he wrote May 26 on Twitter. “I never really know when a place I’ve been or an experience I’ve had will take my mind to the fact that I’ve lost my son. I miss him dearly. I never thought that I’d feel this way but, ‘Life goes on long after the thrill of living is gone.’ ”
Upon Thursday’s announcement, Burrell shared one final message with his UH family.
“My time on Cullen Boulevard has come to an end, but rest assured that whatever God has in store for me and my family, I will bleed Cougar red,” Burrell said. “Farewell Cougar Nation and Go Coogs!”