Norfolk State University athletics director Orby Moss announced Thursday the appointment of current cross-country coach Kenneth Giles to the post of acting head men’s track & field coach.

Giles replaces Floyd Conley , who passed away Sept. 6 after complication from a heart attack. Giles, who was hired in 1999 on the same day as Conley, has served as assistant track coach to Conley since that time.

“It’s kind of an unfortunate situation how this came about, but I know that coach Conley would be happy for me because he prepared me for this. I won’t let him down,” Giles said.

In four years as coach, Giles’ cross-country teams have won the past three MEAC championships, and also finished runner-up in Giles’ first year. He was also instrumental in the development of NSU’s 2000-2001 MEAC track championship teams.

“Coach Giles has demonstrated his ability to work with talented student-athletes,” Moss said. “He has been the head coach of the men’s cross country team that has won back-to-back-to-back conference championships and has this year’s team ranked regionally. The students respect his running knowledge and want to see him bring this same level of success to the track program.”

Giles, a native of Hampton, VA, is also the personal coach for one of the top 400-meter sprinters in the world, former NSU athlete Chris Brown. He was a standout 800-meter runner in college. He won the silver medal at the 2001 World Championships.

In 1985, Giles earned Junior College All-American status by finishing eighth at the indoor national meet in the 800 for Hagerstown (Md.) Community College. He continued his success in that event at the University of North Florida, where he is still the 800-meter indoor record-holder. Giles earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from UNF in 1987.

“I’d like to thank President McDemmond, Mr. Moss and coach (LaVerne) Sweat for having the confidence in me,” Giles added. “I plan on leading us to the same success in track that we’ve had in cross country, and I am going to go out and recruit some of the best sprinters in the country and the world.”