After a two-year absence, Cheree Hicks has finally returned to Syracuse track and field — as a coach.

‘I might be a coach for a while,’ she said. ‘I really do like it.’

Following two years of dominance in 1999 and 2000 on the SU track and field team, Hicks took a two-year hiatus from the Orangewomen. Now, the former All-American shot-putter is SU’s throws coach.

After transferring to Syracuse from Cal State-Northridge as a junior, Hicks set SU and Big East records in the outdoor discus and shot put and the indoor shot put. She won the indoor and outdoor Big East Championships in discus and shot put during her junior and senior years. She was also named an indoor and outdoor All-American in the shot put in 1999 and 2000.

In her two years away from Syracuse, Hicks dabbled in public relations before realizing she was ‘the outdoorsy type.’ She then took a position as a track and field assistant coach at Portland State.

Still, Hicks hadn’t always planned to return to Syracuse.

‘I was cold searching,” she said. “And the job (as assistant coach at SU) came up.”

Despite her experience at Portland State, Hicks admits she has a lot to learn.

‘I’m just a new coach right now,’ Hicks said. ‘I’m still learning the ropes.’

Hicks’ presence on the coaching staff is not just a new experience for her, but also for SU’s throwers. Much of Hicks’ efforts now focus on transitioning the athletes to her coaching style.

‘I thought she was best qualified for the position,’ said SU track and field head coach Andrew Roberts. ‘She seeks instruction or guidance when she needs it. I can’t ask for more from someone I work with. She’s been a breath of fresh air.’

‘I’m still doing the hit-and-miss thing,’ Hicks said. ‘Right now, it’s trial and error and building relationships with the athletes.’

Though Hicks is new to coaching, her goals are loftier. She hopes to one day become a college athletics director.

In her throwing days at Syracuse, Hicks competed under Roberts.

‘You can’t replace that kind of experience,’ Roberts said.

Hicks said she believes her experiences under Roberts will help her in coaching the throwers.

‘They both have their ups, and they both have their downs,’ Hicks said of coaching and competing. ‘I know what (the athletes) have been through and what they’re going to go through. I can help them to relate.’

Hicks’ athletes have been in the weight room, but until the indoor track and field season begins, Hicks will have no way of assessing her efforts.

She’s got a strong foundation to build on though.

Syracuse sent five discus throwers and shot-putters to the Big East Championships last year, and two — Tim Adrian and Johvonne Hernandez — earned All-Big East honors.

‘She’s been there, and she knows what it takes to get there,” Adrian said. ‘She really knows what it takes to be at that level. She’s trying to get that out of all of her athletes to make them the best that they can be. She works us really hard. But you have to work hard if you want to be the best.’

For her efforts, Hicks concedes that the athletes control her fate as coach.

‘It’s all going to come down to how these athletes throw in the indoor and outdoor season,’ she said. ‘They have talent. I’m just trying to bring that together and help them grow into what they should become.’

Published on September 30, 2002 at 12:00 pm