Leevan Sands

Leevan Sands enters his second season as an assistant jumps coach for the FSU track and field program. Sands previously served as an assistant track & field coach at the University of Northern Colorado for two years.

Coach Sands took the jumps squad to new heights during the 2022 season. In the outdoor season, Sands helped coach Jeremiah Davis and Isaac Grimes who finished second and third at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the long jump. Sands also helped Davis and Jacore Irving to qualify for the triple jump at the NCAA Outdoor Championships where Davis finished seventh.

Before turning to coaching, Sands enjoyed a 13-year professional career that was highlighted by winning the bronze medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in the triple jump, while representing the Bahamas.

He was also the CEO of Sands Pro Apparel for four years and co-owner of Sno Bix and Sand Pit Snacks.

Sands is a four-time Olympian and 12-time Bahamas national champion. He currently holds the Bahamian national record in the triple jump (17.59) for outdoor and the long jump (8.10) in indoor.

He also won the silver medal at the 2015 Pan American Games and bronze medals from the 2002 Commonwealth Games, the 2003 World Championships, and the 2015 North American, Central American, and Caribbean Championships.

Sands took on the role of a spokesperson for the Bahamas in 2008 and helped mentor kids from his home country, including the 2016 NCAA triple jump champion.

Sands served as a volunteer assistant at Auburn High School in Opelika, Alabama, for two seasons where he helped produce two state champions in addition to the No. 3 triple jumper in the country. He also coached local junior basketball and youth baseball teams.

Sands graduated from Auburn University in 2005 with a degree in adult education. He was the 2003 NCAA long jump champion and the NCAA triple jump champion in 2004.

In 2004, Sands was named the SEC Scholar Athlete of the Year.

Prior to his collegiate career, Sands was the Gatorade Athlete of the Year after winning gold in the long, triple, and high jump at the High School National Championships in 1999. He was also the indoor high school champ in the long and triple jump where he set the record in the triple jump (52’8”).