The mission of Dave Bethany Elite Youth Track and Field Club, in alignment with the local USATF Gulf Association, is to develop, support and promote the pursuit of excellence in the area of youth track and field.

Dave Bethany Elite was established to honor the legacy of the late Coach Dave Bethany. Coach Bethany was the Head Track and Field coach of the Texas Southern University “Flying” Tigers for 27 years, and also the founding President of the USATF Gulf Association. 

During his time at TSU, his teams brought home 46 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Championships between 1972 and 1994. He won more team championships than any coach in the history of the SWAC and was named SWAC Track Coach of the year 18 times! His teams also won four men’s and three women’s NAIA Championships, and Bethany was named the Coach of the Year two times. In 1990, he was selected as head coach of the Junior Team at the World Championships in Bulgaria. In 1986, he was chosen as the coordinator of the U.S.Olympic Festival. At the 1985 U.S.A. Spans Festival, he served as the Head Coach of the South and was named as the U.S.A. Head Junior Pan-American Coach in 1984. Because of his commitment to health education, he was selected to develop the Physical Education Curriculum for the Houston Community College System and served as the Chairperson of the Department.

During his coaching career, Dave and his assistant coach Porter Robinson, developed 20 Olympic athletes and 50 International competitors. 

The highlight of Bethany’s career was his team’s third place finish in the 1985 Women’s NCAA Championship.  

Now, Dave Bethany Elite Youth Track Organization plans to continue the legacy Coach Bethany created, through the youth of the greater Houston area!