Darnell Almanzar joined the North Carolina Central University coaching staff in the spring of 2018.
A graduate of Livingstone College in 2009, Almanzar earned his B.A. degree in English. He then went on to Howard University to obtain his M.Ed. in Secondary Education with a concentration in English Education.
During his undergraduate years, Almanzar was a member of the track and field team, competing in the 800-meter through 3000-meter events and cross country. While running at Livingstone, Almanzar was named All-CIAA Cross Country Honorable Mention twice and was a three-time All-CIAA Academic Honors recipient. In 2007, Almanzar earned All-CIAA Second Team recognition for the indoor distance medley with a time that ranks fifth in school history in the past 20 years.
Almanzar began his coaching career in Washington, D.C., where he coached at E.L. Haynes Public Charter School for four years. Almanzar then transitioned to coach Cesar Chavez Public Charter School. With his two high school coaching experiences, Almanzar has coached two conference team champions, 55 all-conference performers, 12 conference champions in XC/Track, and several New Balance National qualifiers. Almanzar also served as the Chairman for the PCSAA Cross Country and Track and Field from 2013-16.
Almanzar also coached club track with DC Speed Track Club. There he helped coach more than 25 indoor and outdoor track and field all-Americans, four national champions and over 40 USATF Junior Olympic qualifiers.
Almanzar began his collegiate coaching in 2017 as an Assistant Cross Country Coach at William Peace University in Raleigh, North Carolina. There he helped guide the men's and women's teams to their best team performances in the past 10 years.
Almanzar transitioned to North Carolina Central in 2018. During his time, he has helped revitalize the mid-distance and distance program. In his first Cross Country season, the men’s team improved their team finish at the MEAC Championships from 12h the previous season to 7th, tied for the highest finish in program history. In 2019, he coached NCCU’s highest women’s finisher at MEAC Championships with a 7th place performance and the second fastest time in program history. In track and field, Almanzar has coached five NCCU Division 1 school records: Women’s 3000, Women’s 5000, Men’s 3000, Men’s 5000 and Men’s 3000 Steeplechase. At the 2019-20 MEAC Championships, his student-athlete earned the bronze medal in the Women’s 5000m.
Besides coaching, Almanzar continues his running career as a Masters athlete competing with the Glenarden Elite Track Club based out of Glenarden, MD. In 2017, Almanzar earned USATF Masters All-American honors in the 800m, where he ranked seventh in the country in the 30-34 age group. As a competitive road racer, Almanzar has notched eight first-place finishes and more than 20 top-5 finishes with several meet and course records in local and national meets in races from 5k-10k.
