Champagnie Hired as Track and Field Assistant Coach
Aug 18, 2026 | Track & Field
Champagnie spent three seasons at Minnesota, her alma mater, as assistant coach
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Director of Track and Field & Cross Country Travis Geopfert announced the hiring of Ayesha Champagnie as assistant coach on Tuesday (August 18) finalizing his coaching staff for the 2026-27 season. Champagnie will assist with the sprinters, hurdlers, jumpers and combined events athletes.
Champagnie has spent the last three years at her alma mater, the University of Minnesota, as assistant coach over the same four event groups. During her first season as a coach in 2023-24, the women's team was crowned the Big Ten Outdoor Championship with 131 points.
"I'm thrilled Ayesha will be joining our staff! She's a winner both as a coach and as a former athlete," Geopfert said. "She has proven herself in the coaching ranks and comes from a quality program with great mentorship in Coach [Matt] Bingle and the University of Minnesota. I was fortunate to coach Ayesha as a grad student for one year and know well the character and quality person that she is. I feel very fortunate she has chosen to help K-State strive for Big 12 and NCAA titles. Her coaching acumen, leadership skills and positive attitude are going to help elevate all facets of our program!"
While at Minnesota she assisted athletes to NCAA Second Team All-American honors, Diarra Sow (triple jump), Devin Augustine (200 meters) and Odell Frye (Honorable Mention, 100 meters).
The Kingston, Jamaica, native competed for the Gophers from 2018-20 earning a NCAA Second Team All-America honor as a three-time NCAA qualifier before spending a fifth year, 2020-21, at the University of Tennessee. She finished 9th in the heptathlon at the 2019 NCAA Outdoor Championship and was a two-time Big Ten medalist; 2020 silver medalist in the indoor pentathlon and 2018 bronze medalist in the outdoor heptathlon.
She still holds the Minnesota school record in the indoor long jump at 6.56m (21' 8.25") and the no. 3 best performances in both the pentathlon (4,155 points) and the heptathlon (5,821 points).
"I am incredibly honored and humbled to join K-State track and field," Champagnie said. "This opportunity represents more than a new position; it is an opportunity to serve, to lead and to help shape the next generation of student-athletes. I am excited to be part of a program with such a strong tradition of excellence and to work alongside a coaching staff committed to developing and supporting our student-athletes as they pursue excellence both on and off the track."
Champagnie had immediate success starting her collegiate career at Barton County Community College in 2015-17 where she was a six-time NJCAA national champion with two titles each in the pentathlon, heptathlon and javelin. She still holds the pentathlon school record from 2016 and the no. 2 javelin mark at 48.92m (160' 6"). Competing for her country, she was the 2019 Jamaica national champion in the javelin.
Champagnie received her bachelor's degree in youth studies at Minnesota and earned her master's degree in sports management at Tennessee.
Other staff adjustments for the upcoming season include Kayla Tully being promoted to director of operations, previously spending the last eight years as the cross country/track and field staff assistant.
Champagnie's Coaching Experience
Athletic Accomplishments
Education
How to follow the 'Cats: For complete information on the K-State Track and Field and Cross Country Teams, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.
Champagnie has spent the last three years at her alma mater, the University of Minnesota, as assistant coach over the same four event groups. During her first season as a coach in 2023-24, the women's team was crowned the Big Ten Outdoor Championship with 131 points.
"I'm thrilled Ayesha will be joining our staff! She's a winner both as a coach and as a former athlete," Geopfert said. "She has proven herself in the coaching ranks and comes from a quality program with great mentorship in Coach [Matt] Bingle and the University of Minnesota. I was fortunate to coach Ayesha as a grad student for one year and know well the character and quality person that she is. I feel very fortunate she has chosen to help K-State strive for Big 12 and NCAA titles. Her coaching acumen, leadership skills and positive attitude are going to help elevate all facets of our program!"
While at Minnesota she assisted athletes to NCAA Second Team All-American honors, Diarra Sow (triple jump), Devin Augustine (200 meters) and Odell Frye (Honorable Mention, 100 meters).
The Kingston, Jamaica, native competed for the Gophers from 2018-20 earning a NCAA Second Team All-America honor as a three-time NCAA qualifier before spending a fifth year, 2020-21, at the University of Tennessee. She finished 9th in the heptathlon at the 2019 NCAA Outdoor Championship and was a two-time Big Ten medalist; 2020 silver medalist in the indoor pentathlon and 2018 bronze medalist in the outdoor heptathlon.
She still holds the Minnesota school record in the indoor long jump at 6.56m (21' 8.25") and the no. 3 best performances in both the pentathlon (4,155 points) and the heptathlon (5,821 points).
"I am incredibly honored and humbled to join K-State track and field," Champagnie said. "This opportunity represents more than a new position; it is an opportunity to serve, to lead and to help shape the next generation of student-athletes. I am excited to be part of a program with such a strong tradition of excellence and to work alongside a coaching staff committed to developing and supporting our student-athletes as they pursue excellence both on and off the track."
Champagnie had immediate success starting her collegiate career at Barton County Community College in 2015-17 where she was a six-time NJCAA national champion with two titles each in the pentathlon, heptathlon and javelin. She still holds the pentathlon school record from 2016 and the no. 2 javelin mark at 48.92m (160' 6"). Competing for her country, she was the 2019 Jamaica national champion in the javelin.
Champagnie received her bachelor's degree in youth studies at Minnesota and earned her master's degree in sports management at Tennessee.
Other staff adjustments for the upcoming season include Kayla Tully being promoted to director of operations, previously spending the last eight years as the cross country/track and field staff assistant.
Champagnie's Coaching Experience
- Assistant Coach, University of Minnesota (2023-26)
Athletic Accomplishments
- 2018 NCAA Second Team All-American (Outdoor, Heptathlon)
- Four-time NJCAA Outdoor National Champion (Heptathlon & Javelin)
- Two-time NJCAA Indoor National Champion (Pentathlon)
Education
- Bachelor's degree in youth studies, Minnesota, 2020
- Master's degree in sports management, Tennessee, 2021
-- k-statesports.com --
How to follow the 'Cats: For complete information on the K-State Track and Field and Cross Country Teams, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.
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