GREENVILLE, N.C. -- Men's head track and field coach Bill Carson has been named as an assistant coach of the United States Junior Olympic team that will attend the world junior championships in 2004 in Italy.

Carson will be the sprint coach for the Junior Olympic Team, which includes athletes under the age of 19. This is Carson's first Junior Olympic coaching endeavor.

Carson is in his 36th year as the head coach at East Carolina. During his career he has coached 65 All-Americans, has had runners qualify for the NCAA championships 14 out of the last 15 years, and was named District III Coach-of-the-Year.

"Of all the trips I could have gotten I am very pleased about the idea of working with the juniors," said Carson. "The juniors are a very fun group to work with and it will be a lot of fun to do."