SPORTS

Carl Lewis joins coaching staff of University of Houston's track team

The Associated Press Published Tuesday, September 2, 2014 7:28AM EDT

Former U.S. Olympian Carl Lewis speaks to reporters while visiting Tokyo National Stadium, where he won the 100-metre final and set a world record at the 3rd World Track and Field Championships in 1991, on March 25, 2013. (AP / Koji Sasahara)

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HOUSTON -- Olympic great Carl Lewis has agreed to become a full-time coach for the track and field program at the University of Houston.

Lewis was a volunteer assistant last season. Head coach Leroy Burrell says Monday in a release that Lewis is taking on a full-time role for the 2014-15 campaign, and will coach sprints and jumps for the Cougars.

Burrell says Lewis "brings a wealth of experience and international recognition to the program."

Lewis won 10 Olympic medals and 10 world championship medals in his career. The six-time All-American won six national titles and nine individual conference titles in two seasons at Houston, where he competed on the same team with Burrell.

Lewis held the world record in the men's 100-meter dash from 1991 until Burrell broke it in 1994.