Glendale, Arizona –After 32 years of Ralph Neighbors building the Glendale Community College track and field program into state and national prominence, including national champions, Delawn Leggett takes over and has plenty of experience to lead the team. Leggett ran track for Tolleson High School in the 400 meters and 4 x 400 relay, and at GCC he was on the 4 x 200-meter relay team which set a school record. He also ran the 400 meters, 4×100 and 4×400-meter relay event. He continued his collegiate track career at Missouri’s Lincoln University and started the Cesar Chavez track program when the high school opened in 2000.Once Leggett went though the interview process with GCC Athletic Director Dave Grant, it was a matter of waiting.“It was after the track season ended,” Leggett said. “Coach Neighbors made it official that he retired. He inquired to me about the possibility of helping out with the team at the collegiate level to help me gain experience.“I coached for 13 years at Cesar Chavez and I was looking for some opportunities out there, and he didn’t tell me he was retiring. I feel blessed to come back to my alma mater and give back to the kids.”Neighbors was still planning for the 2013 season as if everything was normal, but he thought about possibly coaching in another capacity at GCC. He said GCC distance coach Randy Espinoza had discussed the possibility of Neighbors retiring at the state high school meet at Mesa Community College, Leggett said.“I’ve always had a good relationship with coach Neighbors, coach Espinoza and GCC pole vault coach (Cranny) Hysong,” Leggett said. “When you look at what I built at Chavez, Brian Bogen, the boys track coach at Tolleson made us competitive and he showed us the fun side when I got to Chavez. As far as workouts, timing and speed, I owe that to coach Neighbors.“It will be an easy transition as far as workouts and the philosophy (showing up on time, commitment and fun from coaching at Chavez) is the same. That’s what kids are concerned with. I’ve met a couple of kids and they let me pick Coach Neighbor’s brain. I’m also meeting new recruits as well as returners.”He said there are many returners to work with on the men’s side and it is a matter of building up the women’s team. A typical day for Leggett begins at 7 a.m. and goes to 3 p.m. just for teaching, coaching and checking grades to make sure people are eligible. Also, he must mete out discipline, work on the track budget, conduct fundraising, submit entries for meets, coordinate travel plans and hire concession workers if the school hosts a meet, among others.“Track and field season will wear you out,” Leggett said. “The hope is that kids know to be at practice every day. My focus is keeping them eligible academically, along with recruiting and making sure they’re successful athletically.“Each runner is unique and it’s not one-workout-fits-all, because when it comes to running, everyone’s fun is different. Coming in and learning all the different mannerisms is a challenge. In track and field, you’re so engulfed in it, you learn the science of running becomes a little easier to apply to athletes.”Grant said Leggett was the right man for the job at the right time.“He seems like he has an agreeable personality,” Grant said. “He has a proven track record, can work with students for recruiting and can handle the off-track issues, so I like that. He can commit them to continue their athletic and academic opportunities.”  source