He is a graduate of San Pedro High School, Los Angeles Harbor College where he was a state finalist in the hurdles, Long Beach State University (B.A. Physical Education 1978) and California State University, Northridge (Masters in Exercise Physiology). While at Northridge, he coached their track team. In 1980 he moved to the University of California, Los Angeles, where he was an assistant coach for four years. He then became the head coach and established his reputation for training elite level athletes. Many of those athletes have themselves become elite level coaches. In 1989, sprinter Angela Bailey stated that she did not want to train with Kersee due to suspicions about performance-enhancing drugs.[1] In 2005, Kersee was selected USA Track & Field Coach of the year.[2] He also won the award in 2015.[3]
