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 Udon Cheek
Udon Cheek

Position:
Sprints, Relays, Hurdles

Udon Cheek is in his third season as an assistant coach, mentoring the sprints, hurdles and relays athletes. He began his collegiate athletic career as a walk-on to the ECU track and field program in 1987. Through dedication and hard work, Cheek earned a scholarship for his contributions in the 400m hurdles and the 4x400m relay. His achievements as a "Running Pirate" are highlighted by All-East (IC4A) honors for his participation on a 4x400m relay that qualified for the NCAA Track and Field Championships.

After his athletic eligibility was exhausted, Coach Cheek was offered an opportunity by Charles "Choo" Justice to get his feet wet in the coaching arena with the ECU women's track and field program. From 1992-1996, he helped Coach Justice shape the ECU women's sprint, hurdle and relay program. The team became very competitive in the Colonial Athletic Association and ECAC Championships with its sprints, hurdles and sprint relays.

Cheek's experience as a track coach extends over fourteen years in the high school and collegiate ranks. Prior to his fulltime hire at ECU in 2008, Cheek spent six years as an assistant to Dennis Gibson at JH Rose High School in Greenville, NC. Cheek's first experience in the high school arena came a year prior to his time at JH Rose at DH Conley High School (Winterville, NC) as an assistant under the leadership of Carlton Floyd.

At the high school level, Cheek has had the privilege of training NCHSA State Champions as well as NCHSA All-State hurdlers and sprint relay teams. At the collegiate level he has trained NCAA Championship qualifiers, Conference USA champions, All-East (ECAC) sprinters and relay teams, as well as ECU record holders in the hurdles, sprints and relays.

Udon is happily married to former ECU sprinter Shantell Cheek and has two children, a four-year old daughter, Alyssa and a newly born son, Johnovan. He is a member of Koinonia Christian Center Church (Bishop Rosie S. O'Neal) and faithfully serves in the teen development ministry.