Maxwell Promoted to Head Cross Country/Track & Field Coach at SMC

(Story provided by Spartanburg Methodist Sports Communications)

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Jannai Maxwell, who helped guide the Spartanburg Methodist College cross country and track and field programs during the 2024–25 season, has been named the new head coach, effective immediately, announced SMC Athletic Director Megan Aiello on Wednesday.

"Jannai has a great vision and passion for these programs and the student-athletes and will continue to build upon the foundation that he helped lay last year," said Aiello.

"I look forward to continuing the success of our cross country and track and field programs. We have a great collection of individuals who are ready to make a big impact this year," said Maxwell.

As an assistant coach, Maxwell was instrumental in the success of both the cross country and track and field programs. Three members of the women's cross country team became the first SMC student-athletes to compete at an NAIA national championship. Under his guidance, sprinter Romeo Brown qualified for the 2025 NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

The women's track and field team captured the 2025 Continental Athletic Conference Championship. Additionally, the women's cross country team and the men's track and field team both finished second, while the men's cross country team placed third. Over the 2024–25 academic year, 15 SMC men's and women's cross country and track and field student-athletes earned weekly recognition from the CAC.

In the classroom, the men's cross country and women's track and field teams posted a cumulative GPA above 3.0 for the 2024–25 academic year.

Beyond his work with cross country and track and field, Maxwell played a key role in supporting other athletic programs at SMC with his expertise in strength and conditioning.

Before coming to SMC, Maxwell competed collegiately at Southern Wesleyan University in Central, South Carolina, where he earned numerous honors as a sprinter. He was a three-time NCCAA All-American as a member of the 4x100m relay, winning a national championship in 2018. He also earned three All-Carolinas Conference honors in 2019 as a member of the 4x100 and 4x400 relays. Individually, Maxwell was the NCCAA national champion in the 200m in 2018.

After earning his bachelor's degree in exercise science, Maxwell worked as a physical therapist technician at Joint Implant Surgeons and served as a strength and conditioning coach at Apex Physical Therapy. He also worked as a fitness manager at Around the Clock.

Maxwell is a certified personal trainer by the National Academy of Sports Medicine and a certified strength and conditioning specialist by National Strength and Conditioning Association.