BROCKTON, Mass. ---- Athletics Director Julie Mulvey announced the recent hiring of Dacia Samuels as the next Massasoit Community College men's and women's track & field coach for the 2019 season.

Samuels takes over a relatively young track program at Massasoit, having started in the spring of 2013, with the first meet this season taking place this Saturday at Bridgewater State.

A three-year track student-athlete at Augustana College, a Division III college located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Samuels qualified for the NCAA National Championship her senior season. The sprinter and jumper was also twice named an All-North Central Conference Athlete and her school record 4x100 meter relay team time still stands at Augustana today.

"Dacia is passionate about the sport of track and field," Mulvey said. "She has been involved with the sport her entire life and still trains and competes individually to this day. Her experience and knowledge of techniques within the sport make a great fit for our program. We expect the track team to grow and continue on the success we've had over the years."

Around track her entire life, the Jamaica native served as an assistant coach at Boston Latin High School for seven years and spent nearly a decade working at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center.

Samuels has continued to compete since her collegiate days ended competing on the Greater Boston Track Club, capturing multiple individual USATFNE Indoor/Outdoor Championships in the 100- and 200-meter races.

Samuels graduated from Augustana College with a Bachelor's of Arts in Health and Wellness in 2004 and later went on to earn her Master's of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Central Missouri.

She currently works as an Exercise Therapist at South Shore Hospital and resides in Brockton with her husband Everad Samuels. He will serve as an assistant coach for the Warriors.