WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue track & field and cross country coach Norbert Elliott has named Ricardo Page the program's newest assistant coach.
Page will coach the Boilermaker throwers and comes to Purdue after serving as the head coach at Lane College in 2020-21.
"I am really excited to have coach Ricardo Page join the Boilermaker family," Elliott said. "He brings a lot of passion for coaching, and also for caring for the student-athletes, and that's really important. I like his energy, and I think he will do well for us and be a great addition to our program."
Page's career has included stints at UCF, Georgia State, Jackson State, Union College and Southern Mississippi. In his 13-year career, he has coached 17 conference champions, nine student-athletes that have qualified for an NCAA meet, four conference-record-holders, three All-Americans and two conference athletes of the year. Page's teams also have won a pair of team conference titles.
"I want to thank Coach Elliott for this opportunity," Page said. "Purdue is a prestigious institution and one of the top universities in the Big Ten and Power Five. I am extremely happy for the opportunity to be here, and I know that I will be able to elevate our throws group."
Page served as the head coach of the Lane College men's and women's track & field and cross country program in 2020-21. The program opted out of the season due to Covid-19.
From 2018-2020, Page was an assistant coach at UCF. He coached two throwers to NCAA Prelims appearances with the Knights, and his student-athletes won five all-conference accolades. In 2019, Page's throwers recorded four top-five finishes at the AAC conference meet, while six personal-best marks were set. Additionally, three throws ranked No. 2 in program history.
In four seasons as an assistant coach at Georgia State from 2014-18, Page coached two athletes to three All-America honors, which included the No. 3 ranking in the indoor weight throw. Three Panthers competed at NCAA Prelims, with two advancing to the national championships and making prelims three consecutive years. Page led student-athletes to seven conference titles and four Sun Belt medals, while one of his throwers was named the league's athlete of the year twice. Additionally under Page's guidance, 10 school-record marks were set and four conference records were broken.
Page was an assistant coach at Jackson State from 2012-14. He coached the SWAC champion and runner-up in both 2012 and 2013, while the school's discus record was broken under his tutelage. Additionally, Page's Tigers earned three all-conference accolades.
As a graduate assistant coach at Union College from 2010-11, Page coached one NAIA nationals qualifier, six conference champions and contributed to the program's first men's and women's conference championships.
Page's coaching career began at Southern Mississippi, where he was a volunteer assistant coach from 2008-09. In one season, two Golden Eagles made the NCAA East Prelims and two won conference titles under Page's direction.
Additionally, Page was a high school coach in Jamaica, where he coached three high school championships in the shot put and discus, and two national junior representatives at the CARIFTA and CAC junior games.
As a member of the Southern Mississippi squad from 2005-08, Page broke the discus throw record and holds the second-best shot put mark in team history. He was a bronze medalist in the discus at the 2008 Conference USA Championships. Competing for Jamaica, Page broke the under-17 high school record in the discus throw, represented Jamaica twice at the junior level, where he earned silver and bronze medals at his first CAC Games.
A native of St. Catherine, Jamaica, Page earned his bachelor's degree in coaching education from Southern Mississippi in 2008. He earned a master's degree in health and physical education from Union College in 2011.
Page comes to West Lafayette with his wife, Samarla. The couple has two children, Keenan and Kalice.
For more on the Purdue track & field and cross country program, visit PurdueSports.com/TrackField and follow and connect with the Boilermakers on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Page will coach the Boilermaker throwers and comes to Purdue after serving as the head coach at Lane College in 2020-21.
"I am really excited to have coach Ricardo Page join the Boilermaker family," Elliott said. "He brings a lot of passion for coaching, and also for caring for the student-athletes, and that's really important. I like his energy, and I think he will do well for us and be a great addition to our program."
Page's career has included stints at UCF, Georgia State, Jackson State, Union College and Southern Mississippi. In his 13-year career, he has coached 17 conference champions, nine student-athletes that have qualified for an NCAA meet, four conference-record-holders, three All-Americans and two conference athletes of the year. Page's teams also have won a pair of team conference titles.
"I want to thank Coach Elliott for this opportunity," Page said. "Purdue is a prestigious institution and one of the top universities in the Big Ten and Power Five. I am extremely happy for the opportunity to be here, and I know that I will be able to elevate our throws group."
Page served as the head coach of the Lane College men's and women's track & field and cross country program in 2020-21. The program opted out of the season due to Covid-19.
From 2018-2020, Page was an assistant coach at UCF. He coached two throwers to NCAA Prelims appearances with the Knights, and his student-athletes won five all-conference accolades. In 2019, Page's throwers recorded four top-five finishes at the AAC conference meet, while six personal-best marks were set. Additionally, three throws ranked No. 2 in program history.
In four seasons as an assistant coach at Georgia State from 2014-18, Page coached two athletes to three All-America honors, which included the No. 3 ranking in the indoor weight throw. Three Panthers competed at NCAA Prelims, with two advancing to the national championships and making prelims three consecutive years. Page led student-athletes to seven conference titles and four Sun Belt medals, while one of his throwers was named the league's athlete of the year twice. Additionally under Page's guidance, 10 school-record marks were set and four conference records were broken.
Page was an assistant coach at Jackson State from 2012-14. He coached the SWAC champion and runner-up in both 2012 and 2013, while the school's discus record was broken under his tutelage. Additionally, Page's Tigers earned three all-conference accolades.
As a graduate assistant coach at Union College from 2010-11, Page coached one NAIA nationals qualifier, six conference champions and contributed to the program's first men's and women's conference championships.
Page's coaching career began at Southern Mississippi, where he was a volunteer assistant coach from 2008-09. In one season, two Golden Eagles made the NCAA East Prelims and two won conference titles under Page's direction.
Additionally, Page was a high school coach in Jamaica, where he coached three high school championships in the shot put and discus, and two national junior representatives at the CARIFTA and CAC junior games.
As a member of the Southern Mississippi squad from 2005-08, Page broke the discus throw record and holds the second-best shot put mark in team history. He was a bronze medalist in the discus at the 2008 Conference USA Championships. Competing for Jamaica, Page broke the under-17 high school record in the discus throw, represented Jamaica twice at the junior level, where he earned silver and bronze medals at his first CAC Games.
A native of St. Catherine, Jamaica, Page earned his bachelor's degree in coaching education from Southern Mississippi in 2008. He earned a master's degree in health and physical education from Union College in 2011.
Page comes to West Lafayette with his wife, Samarla. The couple has two children, Keenan and Kalice.
For more on the Purdue track & field and cross country program, visit PurdueSports.com/TrackField and follow and connect with the Boilermakers on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.