CHARLES OLIVER INDUCTED TO HIGHSCHOOL HALL OF FAME

Charles Oliver, “Coach O”, was recently inducted into the Jordan Vocational High School’s Athletic Hall of Fame.  He was honored along with Robert Allen, George C. Jenkins, Lawton Garnto and the 2007 state championship basketball team, including head coach Gerald Turner.

                        Coach O ran track his senior year in 1972 at Jordan High and won the state championship after an undefeated season and had the fastest 400 meter time in all four divisions in Georgia and his 48.8 still stands as a school record. He continued his athletic career at Troy State in Troy, Alabama where he won the 1976 NAIA National Championship in the 400-meter dash and still holds the school record in the event (45.74 seconds).  He went on to become an all-America athlete, and a record setting and world class 400 meter competitor.

After graduating from Troy University in 1977 with a degree in Physical Education, he coached track at Columbus, GA High School until he returned to Troy University as a graduate assistant coach.  He was then promoted to head track coach the next year and through 1988, Troy University won seven Gulf South Conference track & cross country championships.  He was named “Coach of the Year” six times and 26 athletes won all-America honors.  Coach Oliver also earned his Master’s Degree in education in 1981.  He was inducted into Troy University’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2012.

Coach Oliver moved to the University of Tennessee in 1988, where he was a member of the track and field coaching staff. During his tenure at the University of Tennessee, they won SEC indoor and outdoor championships and produced numerous all-America performers.  They also won the NCAA National Championship in track & field in 1991.  Oliver remained on the Tennessee administrative staff until 2009.

Oliver resides in Knoxville, Tennessee and manages his three companies, Bags by Coach O, Coach O Registration and Coach O Event Management under the brand name…Coach O.