Longtime SSU Track & Field/Cross Country Head Coach Ted Whitaker Retires, Chad Cannon Named Interim Head Coach

SAVANNAH, Ga.- Following a notable coaching career spanning more than six decades—including 28 years at the helm of the Savannah State University (SSU) Track & Field and Cross-Country programs—Theodore “Ted” Whitaker has announced his retirement.

“It was a great run, and one of the best experiences I’ve had in the coaching field,” said Whitaker. “I’ve met a lot of great people along the way. I’m certainly going to miss it.”

Whitaker began his tenure at Savannah State in 1998. He holds the distinction of being the only coach in SSU history to lead the track & field and cross-country programs through both NCAA Division I and Division II eras, as well as steering the teams through the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under Whitaker’s guidance, SSU consistently produced champions who won individual and relay titles against top-tier national competition. Notably, SSU became the only Historically Black College and University (HBCU) to secure back-to-back victories in the Shuttle Hurdle relay at the prestigious Penn Relays (2013 and 2014). Several of his former SSU athletes have also gone on to compete on the world stage at the Olympic Games.

Over a remarkable 61-year coaching career (32 years in high school, 29 in college), Whitaker’s resume of achievements includes:

· 66 Track and Cross-Country Region Titles

· 12 Track and Cross-Country State Titles

· 6 Track and Cross-Country State Runner-Up Titles

· 1 Class A Men’s Basketball State Runner-Up Title

His leadership has earned him widespread peer recognition, including 17 Region Coach of the Year honors, seven State Coach of the Year awards, and three nominations for National State Coach of the Year. He has mentored two National High School Track & Field All-Americans, five NCAA All-Americans, and one National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics All-American. Additionally, Whitaker is a two-time winner of the Greenville News Number One Award for the best overall athletic program in South Carolina, a six-time winner of the Wachovia Number One Award, and was named the 1996 South Carolina Athletic Coaches Association (SCACA) Athletic Director of the Year.

Stepping into the role of Interim Head Coach is former SSU Assistant Coach Chad Cannon. Cannon originally served as an assistant coach for the Tigers in 1999 and returned to the program in 2024 as the jumps coach.

“My goal is to build and contribute to a program that not only competes at a high level but also develops athletes into disciplined, confident, and successful individuals,” Cannon said.

Cannon brings a wealth of collegiate and high school experience to the position. Prior to his return to Savannah State, he served as an assistant coach at the University of Rio Grande (1994–96) and coached extensively in the South Carolina Lowcountry at Hilton Head High School (2000–04), Bluffton High School (2004–06), and May River High School (2016–23). He also served as the head track & field and cross-country coach at Thomas Worthington High School in Ohio (1996–97).

Cannon’s coaching philosophy centers on the holistic development of the student-athlete—physically, mentally, and personally—while fostering a culture of sustained competitive excellence.

“I place a strong emphasis on event-specific excellence, particularly in jumps, sprints, and hurdles, while maintaining a holistic understanding of team dynamics,” Cannon added. “Technical development, attention to detail, and measurable progress are key components of my training philosophy. Athletes in my programs are expected to pursue daily improvement, with clear standards and accountability.”

SSU Director of Athletics Opio Mashariki expressed immense gratitude for Whitaker’s foundational impact on the university while looking forward to the program’s next chapter.

“We thank Coach Whitaker for his 28 years leading the track program,” remarked Mashariki. “He has been an integral part of our success, and we appreciate all of his hard work and dedication to the program and the university. He will be deeply missed.

“Additionally, we are excited about having Coach Cannon take the reins as our interim head coach,” Mashariki added. “Our student-athletes already enjoy a great relationship with him, and we look forward to the future of the track & field and cross-country programs under his leadership.”

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