| Nic Fortenberry |
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In just his second year at the U of M, Fortenberry coached newcomer Aaron Whetstone to one of the best seasons by a Tiger freshman. Whetstone was ranked in the top 10 in the nation in the triple jump, with a wind-aided mark of 16.60 meters.
Fortenberry saw hurdler Amaechi Oselukwue, successfully defend his Conference USA 110 hurdle championship as he raced to an impressive 14.16 to keep his crown.
Three of Fortenberry's athletes qualified for the 2008 NCAA Mideast Regionals, with all of them winning individual crowns at the C-USA Outdoor Championships. He has had nine regional qualifiers in his first-two years of coaching, including seven C-USA Champions.
Known by his athletes for his demanding and disciplinary style, Memphis sprints coach Nic Fortenberry used his first season at Memphis to show why he was so highly regarded by head coach Kevin Robinson.
In Fortenberry's first year with the Tigers, the team's sprints and jumps groups both made tremendous strides.
Tigers Amaechi Oselukwue and Willie Green each earned the first C-USA Championships of their careers and senior Brandon Winbush took home league titles in both the triple jump and long jump.
The Tiger sprinters and hurdlers played a pivotal role in the men's team's C-USA Outdoor championship, scoring a total of 56 points, while Winbush recorded 20 points on his own.
Fortenberry has more than a decade of experience as both an athlete and a coach at the high school and collegiate levels. As a prep standout at Tylertown High School in Tylertown, Miss., Fortenberry was the captain of the track team, a four year letterman, and three year state qualifier.
Fortenberry enrolled at Louisiana State University on a Naval ROTC scholarship during the summer of 1992. In 1993, he joined Louisiana State University track and field team. Fortenberry competed in cross-country, the 800 meters dash and the 400 meters hurdles for the Tigers.
Fortenberry began his coaching career in 1997 as an assistant track coach and head cross-country coach at Kirby High School in Memphis. He would take over as the boys head coach the following year.
In 2000, Fortenberry moved to Houston High under George Gibson where he coached sprinters and multi-event athletes. He also served as the assistant Cross Country coach. During his time there the cross country team won three state titles and the Track team won the 2005 State Championship. Over 20 of his athletes have gone on to Division I programs, including current Memphis decathlete Jason Morgan.
Fortenberry graduated from LSU in 1996 with a degree in Industrial Education and Construction Management. He has a Level Two USATF certification and USATF certification in pole-vault.
Nic is the father of two children, Gabe and Jada.
